Red Money

by Fergus Hume

  CHAPTER VII.

  THE SECRETARY.

  "Was ever a man in so uncomfortable a position?"

  Lambert asked himself this question as soon as he was safe in hisstudio, and he found it a difficult one to answer. It was true that whathe had said to Agnes, and what Agnes had said to him, was perfectlyhonest and extremely honorable, considering the state of their feelings.But the conversation had been overheard by an unscrupulous woman, whosejealousy would probably twist innocence into guilt. It was certain thatshe would go to Pine and give him a garbled version of what had takenplace, in which case the danger was great, both to himself and to Agnes.Lambert had spoken bravely enough to the marplot, knowing that he haddone no wrong, but now he was by no means sure that he had actedrightly. Perhaps it would have been better to temporize but that wouldhave meant a surrender young to Chaldea's unmaidenly wooing. And, as theman had not a spark of love for her in a heart given entirely to anotherwoman, he was unwilling even to feign playing the part of a lover.

  On reflection he still held to his resolution to go to London, thinkingthat it would be best for him to be out of reach of Agnes while Pine wasin the neighborhood. The news that the millionaire was a gypsy hadastonished him at first; but now that he considered the man's darkcoloring and un-English looks, he quite believed that what Chaldea saidwas true. And he could understand also that Pine--or Hearne, since thatwas his true name--would occasionally wish to breathe the free air ofheath and road since he had been cradled under a tent, and must at timesfeel strongly the longing for the old lawless life. But why should herevert to his beginnings so near to his brother-in-law's house, wherehis wife was staying? "Unless he came to keep an eye on her," murmuredLambert, and unconsciously hit on the very reason of the pseudo-gypsy'spresence at Garvington.

  After all, it would be best to go to London for a time to wait untilhe saw what Chaldea would do. Then he could meet Pine and have anunderstanding with him. The very fact that Pine was a Romany, and was onhis native heath, appealed to Lambert as a reason why he should not seekout the man immediately, as he almost felt inclined to do, in order toforestall Chaldea's story. As Hearne, the millionaire's wild instinctswould be uppermost, and he would probably not listen to reason, whereasif the meeting took place in London, Pine would resume to a certainextent his veneer of civilization and would be more willing to dojustice.

  "Yes," decided Lambert, rising and stretching himself. "I shall go toLondon and wait to turn over matters in my own mind. I shall say nothingto Agnes until I know what is best to be done about Chaldea. Meanwhile,I shall see the girl and get her to hold her tongue for a time--Damn!"He frowned. "It's making the best of a dangerous situation, but I don'tsee my way to a proper adjustment yet. The most necessary thing is togain time."

  With this in his mind he hastily packed a gladstone bag, changed intotweeds, and told Mrs. Tribb that he was going to London for a day or so."I shall get a trap at the inn and drive to the station," he said, as hehalted at the door. "You will receive a wire saying when I shallreturn," and leaving the dry little woman, open-mouthed at this suddendeparture, the young man hastened away.

  Instead of going straight to the village, he took a roundabout road tothe camp on the verge of Abbot's Wood. Here he found the vagrants in astate of great excitement, as Lord Garvington had that afternoon sentnotice by a gamekeeper that they were to leave his land the next day.Taken up with his own private troubles, Lambert did not pay muchattention to those of the tribe, and looked about for Chaldea. Hefinally saw her sitting by one of the fires, in a dejected attitude,and touched her on the shoulder. At once, like a disturbed animal, sheleaped to her feet.

  "The rye!" said Chaldea, with a gasp, and a hopeful look on her face.

  "Give me three days before you say anything to Pine," said Lambert in alow voice, and a furtive look round. "You understand."

  "No," said the girl boldly. "Unless you mean--"

  "Never mind what I mean," interrupted the man hastily, for he wasdetermined not to commit himself. "Will you hold your tongue for threedays?"

  Chaldea looked hard at his face, upon which the red firelight playedbrightly, but could not read what was in his mind. However, she thoughtthat the request showed a sign of yielding, and was a mute confessionthat he knew he was in her power. "I give you three days," she murmured."But--"

  "I have your promise then, so good-bye," interrupted Lambert abruptly,and walked away hastily in the direction of Garvington village. His mindwas more or less of a chaos, but at all events he had gained time toreduce the chaos to some sort of order. Still as yet he could not seethe outcome of the situation and departed swiftly in order to think itover.

  Chaldea made a step or two, as if to follow, but a reflection that shecould do no good by talking at the moment, and a certainty that she heldhim in the hollow of her hand, made her pause. With a hitch of hershapely shoulders she resumed her seat by the fire, brooding sombrely onthe way in which this Gentile had rejected her love. Bending her blackbrows and showing her white teeth like an irritated dog, she inwardlycursed herself for cherishing so foolish a love. Nevertheless, she didnot try to overcome it, but resolved to force the Gorgio to her feet.Then she could spurn him if she had a mind to, as he had spurned her.But she well knew, and confessed it to herself with a sigh, that therewould be no spurning on her part, since her wayward love was strongerthan her pride.

  "Did the Gentile bring the gold, my sister?" asked a harsh voice, andshe raised her head to see Kara's hairy face bent to her ear.

  "No, brother. He goes to Lundra to get the gold. Did I not play my fishin fine style?"

  "I took it for truth, sister!" said Kara, looking at her searchingly.

  Chaldea nodded wearily. "I am a great witch, as you can see."

  "You will be my romi when the gold chinks in our pockets?"

  "Yes, for certain, brother. It's a true fortune!"

  "Before our camp is changed, sister?" persisted the man greedily.

  "No; for to-morrow we may take the road, since the great lord orders usoff his land. And yet--" Chaldea stood up, suddenly recollecting whathad been said by Pine's wife. "Why should we leave?"

  "The rabbit can't kick dust in the fox's face, sister," said Kara,meaning that Garvington was too strong for the gypsies.

  "There are rabbits and rabbits," said Chaldea sententiously. "Where isHearne, brother?"

  "In Gentilla's tent with a Gorgious gentleman. He's trading a horse withthe swell rye, and wants no meddling with his time, sister."

  "I meddle now," snapped Chaldea, and walked away in her usual free andgraceful manner. Kara shrugged his shoulders and then took refuge intalking to his violin, to which he related his doubts of the girl'struth. And he smiled grimly, as he thought of the recovered knife whichwas again snugly hidden under his weather-worn green coat.

  Chaldea, who did not stand on ceremony, walked to the end of the campwithout paying any attention to the excited gypsies, and flung back theflap of the old woman's tent. Mother Cockleshell was not within, as shehad given the use of her abode to Pine and his visitor. This latter wasa small, neat man with a smooth, boyish face and reddish hair. He hadthe innocent expression of a fox-terrier, and rather resembled one. Hewas neatly and inoffensively dressed in blue serge, and although he didnot look exactly like a gentleman, he would have passed for one in acrowd. When Chaldea made her abrupt entrance he was talking volubly toPine, and the millionaire addressed him--when he answered--as Silver.Chaldea, remembering the conversation she had overheard between Pine andMiss Greeby, speedily reached the conclusion that the neat little manwas the secretary referred to therein. Probably he had come to reportabout Lady Agnes.

  "What is it, sister?" demanded Pine sharply, and making a sign thatSilver should stop talking.

  "Does the camp travel to-morrow, brother?"

  "Perhaps, yes," retorted Pine abruptly.

  "And perhaps no, brother, if you use your power."

  Silver raised his faint eyebrows and looked questioningly at hise
mployer, as if to ask what this cryptic sentence meant. Pine knew onlytoo well, since Chaldea had impressed him thoroughly with the fact thatshe had overheard many of his secrets. Therefore he did not waste timein argument, but nodded quietly. "Sleep in peace, sister. The camp shallstay, if you wish it."

  "I do wish it!" She glanced at Silver and changed her speech to Romany."The ring will be here," tapping her finger, "in one week if we stay."

  "So be it, sister," replied Pine, also in Romany, and with a gleam ofsatisfaction in his dark eyes. "Go now and return when this Gentilegoes. What of the golden Gorgious one?"

  "He seeks Lundra this night."

  "For the ring, sister?"

  Chaldea looked hard at him. "For the ring" she said abruptly, thendropping the tent-flap which she had held all the time, she disappeared.

  Silver looked at his master inquiringly, and noted that he seemed verysatisfied. "What did she say in Romany?" he asked eagerly.

  "True news and new news, and news you never heard of," mocked Pine."Don't ask questions, Mark."

  "But since I am your secretary--"

  "You are secretary to Hubert Pine, not to Ishmael Hearne," broke in theother man. "And when Romany is spoken it concerns the last."

  Silver's pale-colored, red-rimmed eyes twinkled in an evil manner. "Youare afraid that I may learn too much about you."

  "You know all that is to be known," retorted Pine sharply. "But I won'thave you meddle with my Romany business. A Gentile such as you arecannot understand the chals."

  "Try me."

  "There is no need. You are my secretary--my trusted secretary--that isquite enough. I pay you well to keep my secrets."

  "I don't keep them because you pay me," said Silver quickly, and with alook of meekness belied by the sinister gleam in his pale bluish eyes."It is devotion that makes me honest. I owe everything to you."

  "I think you do," observed Pine quietly. "When I found you inWhitechapel you were only a pauper toymaker."

  "An inventor of toys, remember. You made your fortune out of myinventions."

  "The three clever toys you invented laid the foundations of my wealth,"corrected the millionaire calmly. "But I made my money in the SouthAfrican share business. And if I hadn't taken up your toys, you wouldhave been now struggling in Whitechapel, since there was no one but meto exploit your brains in the toy-making way. I have rescued you fromstarvation; I have made you my secretary, and pay you a good salary, andI have introduced you to good society. Yes, you do indeed owe everythingto me. Yet--" he paused.

  "Yet what?"

  "Miss Greeby observed that those who have most cause to be grateful aregenerally the least thankful to those who befriend them. I am not surebut what she is right."

  Silver pushed up his lower lip contemptuously, and a derisive expressioncame over his clean-shaven face. "Does a clever man like you go to thatemancipated woman for experience?"

  "Emancipated women are usually very clever," said Pine dryly, "as theycombine the logic of the male with the intuition of the female. And Ihave observed myself, in many cases, that kindness brings outingratitude."

  Silver looked sullen and uneasy. "I don't know why you should talk to mein this strain," he said irritably. "I appreciate what you have done forme, and have no reason to treat you badly. If I did--"

  "I would break you," flamed out his employer, angered by the merethought. "So long as you serve me well, Silver, I am your friend, and Ishall treat you as I have always done, with every consideration. But youplay any tricks on me, and--" he paused expressively.

  "Oh, I won't betray you, if that's what you mean."

  "I am quite sure you won't," said the millionaire with emphasis. "For ifyou do, you return to your original poverty. And remember, Mark, thatthere is nothing in my life which has any need of concealment."

  Silver cast a look round the tent and at the rough clothes of thespeaker. "No need of any concealment?" he asked significantly.

  "Certainly not," rejoined Pine violently. "I don't wish my gypsy originto be known in the Gentile world. But if the truth did come to light,there is nothing to be ashamed of. I commit no crime in calling myselfby a Gorgio name and in accumulating a fortune. You have no hold overme." The man's look was so threatening that Silver winced.

  "I don't hint at any hold over you," he observed mildly. "I am bound toyou both by gratitude and self-interest."

  "Aha. That last is better. It is just as well that we have come to thisunderstanding. If you--" Pine's speech was ended by a sharp fit ofcoughing, and Silver looked at his contortions with a thin-lipped smile.

  "You'll kill yourself if you live this damp colonial sort of tent-life,"was his observation. "Here, take a drink of water."

  Pine did so, and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his rough coat."You're a Gorgio," he said, weakly, for the fit had shaken him, "andcan't understand how a bred and born Romany longs for the smell of thesmoke, the space of the open country, and the sound of the kalo jib.However, I did not ask you here to discuss these things, but to take myinstructions."

  "About Lady Agnes?" asked the secretary, his eyes scintillating.

  "You have had those long ago, although, trusting my wife as I do, therewas really no need for me to ask you to watch her."

  "That is very true. Lady Agnes is exceedingly circumspect."

  "Is she happy?"

  Silver lifted his shoulders. "As happy as a woman can be who is marriedto one man while she loves another."

  He expected an outburst of anger from his employer, but none came. Onthe contrary, Pine sighed, restlessly. "Poor soul. I did her a wrong inmaking her my wife. She would have been happier with Lambert in hispoverty."

  "Probably! Her tastes don't lie like those of other women in thedirection of squandering money. By the way, I suppose, since you arehere, that you know Lambert is staying in the Abbot's Wood Cottage?"

  "Yes, I know that. And what of it?" demanded the millionaire sharply.

  "Nothing; only I thought you would like to know. I fancied you had comehere to see if--"

  "I did not. I can trust you to see that my wife and Lambert do not meetwithout spying myself."

  "If you love and trust your wife so entirely, I wonder you ask me to spyon her at all," said Silver with a faint sneer.

  "She is a woman, and we gypsies have sufficient of the Oriental in us tomistrust even the most honest women. Lambert has not been to The Manor?"

  "No. That's a bad sign. He can't trust himself in her presence."

  "I'll choke the life out of you, rat that you are, if you talk in such away about my wife. What you think doesn't matter. Hold your tongue, andcome to business. I asked you here to take my instructions."

  Silver was rather cowed by this outburst, as he was cunning enough toknow precisely how far he could venture with safety. "I am waiting," heobserved in sullen tones.

  "Garvington--as I knew he would--has ordered us off the land. As thewood is really mine, since I hold it as security, having paid off themortgage, I don't choose that he should deal with it as though it werehis own. Here"--he passed along a letter--"I have written that on myoffice paper, and you will see that it says, I have heard how gypsiesare camping here, and that it is my wish they should remain. Garvingtonis not to order them off on any pretext whatsoever. You understand?"

  "Yes." Silver nodded, and slipped the paper into his breast pocket aftera hasty glance at the contents, which were those the writer had stated."But if Garvington wishes to know why you take such an interest in thegypsies, what am I to say?"

  "Say nothing. Simply do what I have told you."

  "Garvington may suspect that you are a Romany."

  "He won't. He thinks that I'm in Paris, and will never connect me withIshmael Hearne. If he asks questions when we meet I can tell him my owntale. By the way, why is he so anxious to get rid of the tribe?"

  "There have been many burglaries lately in various parts of Hengishire,"explained the secretary. "And Garvington is afraid lest the gypsiesshould be mixed u
p with them. He thinks, this camp being near, some ofthe men may break into the house."

  "What nonsense! Gypsies steal, I don't deny, but in an open way. Theyare not burglars, however, and never will be. Garvington has never seenany near The Manor that he should take fright in this way."

  "I am not so sure of that. Once or twice I have seen that girl who cameto you hanging about the house."

  "Chaldea?" Pine started and looked earnestly at his companion.

  "Yes. She told Mrs. Belgrove's fortune one day when she met her in thepark, and also tried to make Lady Agnes cross her hand with silver forthe same purpose. Nothing came of that, however, as your wife refused tohave her fortune told."

  Pine frowned and looked uneasy, remembering that Chaldea knew of hisGentile masquerading. However, as he could see no reason to suspect thatthe girl had betrayed him, since she had nothing to gain by taking sucha course, he passed the particular incident over. "I must tell Chaldeanot to go near The Manor," he muttered.

  "You will be wise; and tell the men also. Garvington has threatened toshoot any one who tries to enter his house."

  "Garvington's a little fool," said Pine violently. "There is no chancethat the Romany will enter his house. He can set his silly mind atrest."

  "Well, you're warned," said Silver with an elaborate pretence ofindifference.

  Pine looked up, growling. "What the devil do you mean, Mark? Do youthink that I intend to break in. Fool! A Romany isn't a thief of thatsort."

  "I fancied from tradition that they were thieves of all sorts," retortedthe secretary coolly. "And suppose you took a fancy to come quietly andsee your wife?"

  "I should never do that in this dress," interrupted the millionaire in asharp tone. "My wife would then know my true name and birth. I wish tokeep that from her, although there is nothing disgraceful in the secret.I wonder why you say that?" he said, looking searchingly at the littleman.

  "Only because Lambert is in the--"

  "Lambert! Lambert! You are always harping on Lambert."

  "I have your interest at heart."

  Pine laughed doubtfully. "I am not so sure of that. Self-interestrather. I trust my wife--"

  "You do, since you make me spy on her," said Silver caustically.

  "I trust my wife so far," pursued the other man, "if you will permit meto finish my sentence. There is no need for her to see her cousin,and--as they have kept apart for so long--I don't think there is anychance of their seeking one another's company."

  "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," remarked the secretarysententiously. "And you may be living in a fool's paradise. Lambert iswithin running-away distance of her, remember."

  Pine laughed in a raucous manner. "An elopement would have taken placelong ago had it been intended," he snapped tartly. "Don't imagineimpossibilities, Mark. Agnes married me for my money, so that I mightsave the credit of the Lambert family. But for me, Garvington would havepassed through the Bankruptcy Court long ago. I have paid off certainmortgages, but I hold them as security for my wife's good behavior. Sheknows that an elopement with her cousin would mean the ruin of herbrother."

  "You do, indeed, trust her," observed Silver sarcastically.

  "I trust her so far and no further," repeated Pine with an angry snarl."A Gentile she is, and Gentiles are tricky." He stretched out a slim,brown hand significantly and opened it. "I hold her and Garvingtonthere," and he tapped the palm lightly.

  "You don't hold Lambert, and he is the dangerous one."

  "Only dangerous if Agnes consents to run away with him, and she won't dothat," replied Pine coolly.

  "Well, she certainly doesn't care for money."

  "She cares for the credit of her family, and gave herself to me, so thatthe same might be saved."

  Silver shrugged his narrow shoulders. "What fools these aristocratsare," he observed pleasantly. "Even if Garvington were sold up he wouldstill have his title and enough to live on in a quiet way."

  "Probably. But it was not entirely to save his estates that he agreed tomy marriage with his sister," said Pine pointedly and quietly.

  "Eh! What?" The little man's foxy face became alive with eager inquiry.

  "Nothing," said Pine roughly, and rose heavily to his feet. "Mind yourown infernal business, and mine also. Go back and show that letter toGarvington. I want my tribe to stay here."

  "_My_ tribe," laughed Silver, scrambling to his feet; and when he tookhis departure he was still laughing. He wondered what Garvington wouldsay did he know that his sister was married to a full-blooded Romany.

  Pine, in the character of a horse-coper, saw him out of the camp, andwas staring after him when Chaldea, on the watch, touched his shoulder.

  "I come to your tent, brother," she said with very bright eyes.

  "Eh? Yes!" Pine aroused himself out of a brown study. "Avali, miri pen.You have things to say to me?"

  "Golden things, which have to do with your happiness and mine, brother."

  "Hai? A wedding-ring, sister."

  "Truly, brother, if you be a true Romany and not the Gentile you callyourself."