CHAPTER III.
AT DAGGERS' POINTS.
It was Roderic's intention to lead the other a jolly little dancebefore jumping upon him with both feet, so to speak.
In other words he pleased to play with the conceited beau pretty muchas a cat might with a mouse that had fallen into her clutches.
Hence he observed Jerome's amazed expression with the air of a man whowas puzzled.
"Still in Dublin--why not, my boy? This is about as comfortable a berthas one could find, and I shall only desert it when stern duty calls meacross the big pond. Whatever possessed you with the idea that I haddeparted hence--why it was only late last night when I last saw you?"
Wellington was making heroic efforts to resume his ordinary coolappearance, but he had evidently been hard hit, and fluttered like awounded pigeon, which was a rare thing with a man usually calm andsarcastic.
"By Jove! it must have been a bad dream, but, d'ye know my dearfellow, I could swear you came and told me you were off for Hamburg,Constantinople or----"
"Monte Carlo perhaps, since one place is about as likely as the other."
"Well, er, perhaps it was. Wretched dream at any rate. Must have beenthe Welsh rarebit I had about midnight--awful fond of toast and cheese,you know, especially good Roquefort. Glad to know it was only a dream,dused glad, my boy. Would have missed you very much--good men are tooscarce, as it is."
Thus Jerome babbled on, his object being simply delay, in order tocollect himself and grasp the situation.
At the same time possibly he hoped to pull the wool over the eyes ofthe man he addressed.
It was useless.
When Roderic mentioned Monte Carlo the schemer knew his game had beenexposed through some blunder, and all he could hope to fight for wasadvantage of position when the assault came.
He therefore hurried up his reserves and proceeded to call all hands torepel boarders.
Owen had folded his arms and was coolly surveying him across thetable--there was a curl to his mustached lip that told of fine scorn.
Some men can stand almost anything rather than to be made a mark forirony or disdain, and it was this more than anything else that broughtWellington furiously to the front.
"See here, Owen, all chicanery aside, how the devil do you happen tobe here at the Shelbourne instead of on a yacht bound for Havre, andeventually to the gamester's Paradise?" he blurted out.
"A plain question and deserving an equally candid answer. To tell youthe truth then, my dear fellow, I had decided objections to making sucha hasty trip across to the Continent. Your preparations for my comfortwere overwhelming, and while I appreciated all you did I was obliged torespectfully decline."
"Well, my own eyes tell me you are here, but I'll take my oath I sawone who looked enough like you to be your shadow sail out of Kingstownharbor at three this morning on board the steam yacht _Galatea_. Andthat was no hasheesh dream either, superinduced by Welsh rarebit oropium. Now, who the devil went to Havre?"
"A gentleman whose health needed the ocean voyage, and who believed hecould enjoy the society of the gay set on board. I have no doubt hewill be exceedingly grateful for all your trouble."
Jerome looked at first as though he could bite a nail withpleasure--Owen expected him to swear, but the other seldom gave way tosuch vulgar exhibitions of temper.
On the contrary he smiled, and his white teeth showing through hiscarefully adjusted mustache gave Roderic the impression of a grinninghyena.
Still, the application hardly fitted such a case, for Jerome wasconsidered an extremely handsome and fascinating man, however much of ahuman wolf he might be back of the scenes.
"Owen, you have called the hand for the first round. It is on me, anddevilish hard. I could ill afford the cold cash I spent to hire thatboat. I sincerely trust your counterpart will choke upon the goodvictuals I put aboard or else make himself so beastly drunk upon theliquor that he will fall overboard in the bay of Biscay or somewherealong the French coast."
"Don't reproach me for doing just what you would have done had you beenin my shoes, and the plot been revealed to you, Wellington."
The other brightened up a trifle.
"You may be sure I would--but evidently you received a pretty strongtip--who betrayed me?"
He spoke carelessly, but there was a devilish gleam in his blazingeyes that told the state of his feelings toward the unknown.
Owen would sooner have cut his right hand off than betray the source ofhis knowledge.
"I have means of acquiring information that are unequalled outside ofScotland Yard. For some time, Wellington, I had looked upon you as anagreeable acquaintance. That time has gone by. You have stripped themask from your face, and I know you as a wolf preying upon society."
"Sir!"
"Oh! you needn't flare up and look ferocious. I say this to your teeth.If you desire the satisfaction one gentleman demands from another I amalways at your service, whether it be with bare knuckles, a revolver orthe sword. I believe I am equally at home with all, and will take greatpleasure in puncturing your precious skin."
"Well, you are devilish frank, to say the least," declared Jerome,mastering his ugly mood, since he knew full well the disadvantagefalling to the man who gave way to passion.
"I expect to be, since it is the only policy to use when dealing withsuch men as you. I might warn my cousin against your attentions, but itwould be useless, since she has undoubtedly sized you up as an ordinaryadventurer long before I dreamed of it. However, my dear fellow, onelast word of warning before I quit your society. If you take it uponyourself to _annoy_ Cleo--if she appeals to me for assistance I shallcamp on your trail until I finally '_get_' you, as they put it over inmy country."
There was no boastful spirit in his manner, only a grim determinationthat carried weight.
Wellington, looking squarely into those calm orbs that held his own ina species of thralldom knew he had the fight of his life before him.
Perhaps he saw with prophetic vision, some dim inkling of his owndownfall--it is a long road that has no turn--success had visited himmany times in the past, but there was for him as for all adventurers, a_dies irae_ and it might come through Roderic Owen.
"I'll consider myself warned, Owen, and if trouble comes my blood beupon my own head. The only remark I shall venture to make is, that asyet I have never failed in any serious undertaking which engaged myattention," he said, sneeringly.
"Indeed. Then let us hope you are not very serious about this affair."
"I have made a vow. By that I mean to win, or fall. Have youbreakfasted, Owen?"
"Not yet. I shall order a chop and a cup of chocolate."
"You won't join me then?"
"Well, under the circumstances, as we are to be mortal enemies, Ihardly think it would be wise. I have some of the Arab's feeling aboutbreaking bread or eating salt with an enemy."
"I would give something to know who betrayed my little game."
"Don't worry about it--my means are such that in order to learn what Iwish I am not compelled to make traitors of those you trust."
"And the man on the yacht?"
"Oh! Darby is all right--you can depend upon it he will enjoy himselfto the limit. If you read of a man breaking the bank at Monte Carlopresently, make up your mind it was Darby, and that your noblegenerosity is mainly responsible for his presence in that notableplace."
Jerome scowled and muttered something.
"Perhaps it is as well you have decided to have your breakfast inanother quarter. Somehow you have the knack of bruising me mostsavagely, and no doubt we should be at each other's throat like acouple of dogs, ere we finished. I wish to tell you distinctly that ifyou imagine you can frighten me off by such heroics you are chasing amirage, a _fata morgana_ as the deep sea sailors term it. I am not thatkind of a man, and you will find that I sink or swim by my record."
Roderic did not care to bandy further words with the Adonis.
Deeds must tell the story as to which of the
m should win in the longrun, and Owen preferred such a course.
It chanced that M'lle Cleo and her companion entered the room aboutthis time, and joining them Roderic had his chop in merry company.
The daughter of ten millions looked fresh and full of life. As hechatted with her across the table Owen was wondering why she had nevermated.
"It's the confounded dazzle of her money," he decided finally; "she haseducated herself to believe no one can ever love _her_, but that thefortune draws them. By Jove! She should hide herself under an _incog._and thus discover a lover who will worship her for her own dear self.I warrant there are many good fellows who would gladly go through fireand flood for her sake, if they knew her only as a stenographer orschoolmam."
Which line of reasoning did Roderic credit.
That same fortune had something to do with his own feelings in thematter, as it must with every honorable man.
"When do you leave Dublin?" asked his cousin, endeavoring to appearcareless.
"I shall cross to Liverpool to-morrow and take the White Star steamerfor New York--unless something occurs to change my plans."
"Then you are compelled to go to New York?"
"Only as a means of reaching my ultimate destination."
"Which is----"
He lowered his voice.
"Porto Rico."
"But, the danger--that is a Spanish stronghold, and we are at war withSpain."
"Already troops are ordered to land there--perhaps General Miles is onthe way. With the fall of Santiago our efforts are to be concentratedabout San Juan. A portion of the work falls upon my shoulders--that isall. Besides, I naturally want to be in at the death, as do all ardentfox hunters in the chase."
"I wish, cousin, you would give up so dangerous a calling. Surely youare as well fitted for other pursuits in which your life would not beat stake."
There was real concern in her voice, and Roderic found his hearttouched.
"I have been seriously considering that same matter myself, andconcluded to make a change after the war is over."
"Why wait until then?"
"For many reasons. In the first place Western men have a saying thatit is bad policy to change horses while crossing a stream. It is alsoa poor piece of business to desert your country while she has need ofyour services."
"Enough. I know that your motives are honorable. But about this tripacross to the Antilles--I could tell you of a quicker way of reachingthe shore of Porto Rico, that is, should you consider it worth yourwhile to accept," with a tinge of color in her cheeks, and a sparkle toher blue eyes.
"Indeed, I should like to hear of it. Time may be a factor in my game."
"I made a purchase in England--you know I am something of a yachtsmanin my way, and the temptation was great."
"You purchased a yacht?"
"A steam yacht."
"Lucky mortal to be able to do such a thing with as little concern as Iwould buy a cravat."
"She is a beauty, Roderic."
"Don't doubt it in the least, else you would never have fancied her."
"She is called the Dreadnaught."
"Phew! a genuine English name. Of course you will change it to theMayflower or Pilgrim or some strictly Yankee cognomen?"
"At present I must decline to do so, as she sails with an English crewand under the flag of Great Britain."
Owen looked puzzled, and then smiled.
"Oh! I see, a _ruse de guerre_. Very good, indeed. The Dreadnaught sheshall remain as long as our war with Spain continues. Well, are you offfor a delightful voyage along the Mediterranean, or perhaps, seeing itis summer, to the North Cape, the Land of the Midnight Sun. Jove! atanother time I might be tempted to join you--that is providing I wereinvited."
"I extend a most pressing invitation and expect you to accept and beour _compagnon de voyage_."
"Alas! my duty lies amid sterner scenes."
"In ten days you can be landed on the shore of Porto Rico."
He eyed her in surprise.
"Is your voyage a westerly one?"
"We are intending to see something of the war, that is all."
Perhaps uncertain but nevertheless alarming visions were conjured up inhis mind.
"I am sorry to hear you say so. The conditions existing on thoseunhappy islands are terrible. Besides, an attractive woman would runrisks among the lawless elements at large that I should grieve to seeyou exposed to."
She laughed, but at the same time his solicitude did not appearunwelcome in the least.
"Foolish boy, you don't suppose, I hope, that I have any Quixoticnotion of parading across the island carrying the star spangled bannerwrapped around me. My object is of a different character. For once inmy life I am to play the Lady Bountiful. Cuba has been looked afteras well as the conditions allow. I am informed there is also muchsuffering in Porto Rico. I have had my yacht stocked with provisionsand medical stores, and shall relieve honest distress wherever I findit, no matter under what flag."
"God bless you, Cousin Cleo. You will find plenty of it there. TheSpaniards have tightened the mailed hand of late, and Porto Rico groansunder the scourge. Soon freedom's blessings will be their heritage.Every man whose smallest act brings such a consummation to pass, shouldfeel proud of the fact. Where is this boat of yours, cousin?"
"Entering Dublin bay this morning."
"And when will you leave old Erin?"
"When you give the word."
It confused him a little to realize how much she deferred to hisjudgment.
"Pardon me--will there be other passengers?"
"None."
"Then I will accept"--he had desired to make sure Jerome's hatefulpresence might not bring about a duel during the voyage.
"We will call it settled. An hour's notice will find us aboard, bag andbaggage. Govern your own actions as your duty demands."
"This is awfully kind of you Cousin Cleo."
"The obligation is on your part, to put up with our dull society forten days."
"You hurt me when you speak that way. It will surely be one of the mostpleasant episodes of my life. I am smiling to think that after mostpositively declining one yacht voyage last night I have so readilyaccepted another."
"Some one else asked you to go to Porto Rico?"
"Well, no, I rather imagine the intention was for me to bring up in ahotter country than the Antilles. The trip contemplated a voyage toHavre and then across country to the later Monaco, the gambling palaceof Monte Carlo."
"Oh! I am glad you refused to go."
"So am I. But the invitation was very pressing. However, rather thandisappoint the gentleman I sent my representative to receive thehonors."
"It was a _gentleman_ who asked you then?"
His eyes opened with surprise.
"Certainly--that is he did not really ask me, you see, but arranged aneat little affair whereby I was to be a guest of honor."
"How stupid of me, to be sure, I begin to see now that you arespeaking of a business engagement, not a social matter. And will yoursubstitute serve as well as if you had gone?"
"Just as well, until they learn that it is not Roderic Owen they areentertaining with so lavish a hand, but plain Joel Darby. Then Iimagine there will be an explosion of some sort and her ladyship willshow temper."
"Her ladyship--then there is a woman involved?"
"It is true. I see, cousin, that having put my foot in it thus far Iwould do well to tell you the whole story."
"I should be pleased to act as Father Confessor," was the quickresponse.
They were alone at the table, Miss Becky having gone across the room tochat with a congenial spirit whose acquaintance she had made.
So Roderic told his little story as tersely as he could, and in hiscousin he found an interested auditor.
"Well, what do you think of it?" he asked when the finis had beenreached.
"It is very dreadful."
"Surely I came out all right, cousin."
"But--suppose yo
u had not--you would have been hypnotized by theadventuress, and that must have been the end of you. Oh! I know thespecies and all their wiles, having made a study of them."
"Does that sweeping deduction include the male bipeds of the adventurerorder also?"
"Why not?"
"Because I might offend if I told you the name of the man who plannedmy exodus."
"Oh! I have already guessed it was the Adonis."
"Yes, Jerome Wellington. I am glad you know him in his true light. Hehas made a vow."
"I'll wager it concerns my wretched millions."
"Just so--he longs to handle them."
"He will be a smarter man than he is now when that happens. But onething puzzles me?"
"Now it is coming," thought Roderic, though aloud he said cheerily,"What might that be?"
"You received your warning from a nun."
"I was a fool to mention the fact," thought Owen, with one of thesewonderful after inspirations that closes the door when the horse isstolen.
"Yes, from one who was dressed in the somber garb of a cloister," hereplied.
"You evidently do not believe she was what she outwardly appeared?"
"You are a modern Portia, cousin," he laughed.
"Of course, a prisoner at the bar is not pledged to commit himself. IfI am over bold forgive me and make no reply. But, you know, a woman'scuriosity is proverbial."
"I shall answer frankly--she was no member of the Order of the HolyGrail--the garb was assumed to conceal her identity."
"From Jerome--from you?"
"Both, I presume."
"You recognized her face?"
"I did not see that--it was her voice. Even then I was in a maze untilshe had gone."
"Was it a _very_ melodious voice, Roderic."
"The sweetest--well, yes, a voice full of melody," he replied, withevident confusion that did not escape Cleo's quick gaze.
"Ah! you have heard her sing?"
"Dozens of times--like a nightingale," he felt forced to confess.
"This was--where?"
"In San Juan, Porto Rico, two years back. I have not looked on her facesince I fled those shores."
"Ah!" and that one word expressed keen disappointment, for Cleo readthe story of his lost love in his face.
Miss Fairfax of Virginia: A Romance of Love and Adventure Under the Palmettos Page 3