CHAPTER XXVI.
NOT A BAD DAY'S WORK.
The first thing that Doctor Vaughan did on returning from Bellair, wasto seek an interview with Henry, the dark servant of Lucian Davlin.
It was a mixed motive that had first prompted Henry to espouse thecause of a helpless, friendless girl; a motive composed of one partinward wrath, long nourished, against the haughty and over-exactingLucian, and one part pity for the young girl who, as his experiencedeyes told him, was not such as were the women who had usually beenentertained by his master.
He had expected to assist her to escape from the place, to enjoy hismaster's chagrin, and to see the matter end there. But Madeline'sillness had changed the current of events, and strengthened hisdetermination to stand her friend, if need be, more especially whenOlive, pressing upon him a generous gift, had signified her wish thathe should continue in Madeline's service. She had added that when hechose to leave his present master, she would see that he fell into noworse hands, for so long as the sick girl remained under that shelter,Olive felt that the man must be their servant, not Davlin's. And, todo him justice, Henry had long since become truly attached to the twoladies.
He lost no time in responding to the summons of Doctor Vaughan, andwas eager to know of the welfare of the "young lady" and Mrs. Girard.Doctor Vaughan satisfied him on this point, and then said:
"I am authorized by Miss Payne to see you, and ask some questions thatshe thinks you may be able to answer. First, then," said the doctor,in his kindly manner, "how long have you been with your presentmaster?"
"Nearly three years, sir."
"And how long has the woman whom he calls Cora been known to you?"
"She has been known to me all that time, sir," replied Henry.
"You first saw her in company with Davlin?"
"No, sir; she came to his rooms when I had been there but a few days,and ordered me about like a countess. I didn't know the ropes then,but she made me know my duty soon enough," dryly.
"Evidently, then, she and your master were friends of long standing,even at that time?"
"Yes, sir."
"You used to hear them talk often, I suppose?"
"I used to hear parts of their talks. They seemed not to care to haveeven so much of a machine as I, hear them at all times."
"Now, will you try and recall some of these fragments of talk? Thinkif you heard them speak of their travels, together or separately; andif you can recall the names of any persons or places they havementioned."
Henry pondered. "I think," he said, after a time, "that they have beenin Europe together. In fact, I am sure of it."
Doctor Vaughan started. "Oh! that is to the point. You don't recallany time mentioned?"
"No, sir. They used to talk of luck with the cards, and sometimesspoke of operas or plays, and almost always disagreed. Sometimes Iwould hear him describing men to her, and she seemed to be gettingready for a part in some 'game' that he was trying to play."
"Very likely."
"Once I heard them having high words about some old man that she hadbeen fleecing, and he said that she had carried the thing too far; andthat if she did not keep out of the old man's way, she might get intotrouble. I heard the name," putting a forefinger to his forehead andwrinkling his brows; "it was--was--Verage; 'Old Verage,' she calledhim."
"Verage!"
"That was the name; I am sure, sir."
Clarence took out a note-book, and made an entry.
"When did this conversation take place?" he asked.
"Not more than two months before the young lady was brought there,sir."
"Ah!" Evidently a fresh glimmer of light had been thrown on thesubject. "And you heard nothing more about this old man?"
"No, sir. I think she must have gone away from town at that time, forI did not see her again, until--" here Henry seemed to catch at somenew thought.
"Until when?" asked Doctor Vaughan, with some eagerness.
"The day before the young lady came," said Henry, in a low tone, andmoving a step nearer the doctor. "Madame Cora came dashing up in aclose carriage, and she wore a heavy veil. I noticed that because shewas rather fond of displaying her face and hair, and I hardly ever sawher wear anything that would hide them. She came up-stairs and orderedme to send a telegram, which she had already written, to my master. Isent it, and she stayed there all day. She sent me out for her meals,and I served them in the large room. She spent the most of the time inwalking up and down--that was her way when she was worried orangry--and looking out between the curtains. My master answered thetelegram, but when the midnight train came in, a man who went down inthe country with him, a sort of tool and hanger-on of his, came to mewhile I was waiting below, and told me to tell Mistress Cora that thetrain was a few minutes late."
"Stop a moment. This man, who was Davlin's companion,--what was hisname?"
"I never heard him called anything but 'The Professor.'"
"The Professor! And how did he look?" making another entry in thenote-book.
"He was a middle-aged man, sir, not so tall as master, rather squarein the shoulders, and stout built. He wore no beard, and was alwayssmoking a pipe."
"Very good," writing rapidly. "Now, then, let us return to the lady."
"Well, sir, she was very impatient until my master came, and then theyhad a long talk. I heard him speak of the old man Verage again, andshe seemed a little afraid, or annoyed, I don't know which. Then heseemed to be telling her of some new scheme, and there was a greatdeal of planning and some chaffing about her going into the country.Just at daybreak they sent me for a carriage, and she went away in it,closely veiled as before. He told her he would join her without fail.I have not seen her since. That same morning he brought the beautifulyoung lady to his rooms, and," smiling so as to show all his whiteteeth, "I think you know all the rest, sir."
Clarence nodded and then appeared lost in thought. Finally, he liftedhis head from the hand that had supported it, and said:
"Since your master has returned to town, how does he employ his time?"
"Very much as usual."
"And that is in--"
"Gaming."
"Is it true, Henry, that the room below your master's apartments isfitted up for private gambling?"
Henry stirred uneasily, and looked his answer.
Doctor Vaughan smiled. "I see how it is," he said. "Well, then, thisman, the Professor, do you see much of him of late?"
"A great deal, sir; he is very often with my master at his rooms, butthey never go out together. They have had a great deal of privacylately; something new is afoot."
"The man is a sort of decoy-duck, I fancy?"
"Yes; what the gamblers call a capper, or roper-in."
"Well, Henry, I think I won't detain you longer now. Take this,"putting into his hand a twenty-dollar bill, "and keep your eyes andears open. If your master leaves town, observe if the Professordisappears at the same time."
Henry expressed his gratitude and his entire willingness to keep aneye upon the doings of Mr. Davlin and the Professor, and bowed himselfout, muttering as he went: "They will make it lively for my finemaster before very long, and I think I am on the side that will win."
Meantime, Clarence Vaughan, quick in thought and action, was hurryingon his gloves preparatory to a sally forth on a new mission. Henry hadgiven him a hint that might turn out of much value, for among thepatients then on the young doctor's visiting list, was one Verage,old, ugly, and fabulously rich.
First of all, Clarence Vaughan called at the Agency which had beendecided upon as the best one to entrust with the investigationrelative to Mr. Edward Percy. He gave his man no clue to the presentwhereabouts of his subject, but set him back ten years or more,sending him to visit the scenes of school episode, and bidding himtrace the life of the man, with the aid of such clues as he thoughtbest to give, up to that time. Next, he visited another Agency, andplaced a man upon the track of Lucian Davlin.
Then he called a carriage and drove stra
ight to the residence of oldSamuel Verage. It was early in the day for a professional visit or fora visit of any kind. Nevertheless, Doctor Vaughan was admitted withoutdelay, to the presence of the master of the house.
Old Samuel Verage sat in his large, softly-cushioned armchair, in agorgeously beflowered dressing gown.
He was glowering over the dainty dishes which had lately contained abountiful breakfast. Evidently he fancied that the doctor had calledin anticipation of a serious morning attack, or to choke off his toogreedy appetite, for he chuckled maliciously as Clarence entered theroom, and greeted him with,
"Oh! You thought you were ahead of me this time, didn't you? I say,now, _did_ you think I would be worse this morning?"
Clarence surveyed his patient with considerable amusement.
"You won't suffer from a hearty breakfast. It is the supper that youmust look out for. But my call this morning was, in part, to inquireabout a lady."
"About a lady! Of course, of course; go ahead; who is she?"
"That's precisely what I want to know. The fact is, my business israther peculiar, and delicate."
The old man rubbed his hands gleefully. "Good! very good! A mysteryabout a woman! Come out with it; don't be backward."
"Very well; the woman that I want to inquire about has been known asCora Weston."
Old Verage fairly bounced out of his seat as he yelled: "Cora Weston!Where is she? What do you know about her?"
"Not quite enough, or I should not have ventured to inquire of you,"said Clarence, calmly.
Old Verage tumbled into his chair again. "Then you don't know whereshe is?" sharply.
"What could you do if I put her in your power?"
"Lock her up in jail, if I wanted to," fiercely.
Little by little Clarence Vaughan extracted from the old man thedetails of the plausible scheme by which Davlin and Cora had succeededin transferring a very considerable amount of cash from his pockets totheir own. He felt elated at the result of this interview. It placed aweapon in his hands that might be wielded with telling effect whentime served.
"Well, you may be able to get even with her yet," he said, rising togo, after Verage had concluded his tirade; "many thanks for giving mesome information. I may be able to return the compliment soon."
"But hold on!" cried Verage, as if seized by a new thought; "I say,now, what is all this questioning about?"
"Some of her sharp practice has come to my knowledge, and she hasmade a little trouble for one of my friends. I want to know all that Ican about her, for it may be necessary to put a stop to her career."
With a renewed expression of his thanks for the information given,Clarence bowed himself out of the old man's presence, with a sense ofrelief at inhaling the fresh, pure air of the outer world. Then heturned his steps homeward, assured that it had been a good day's workwell done.
Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter Page 27