CHAPTER XIX.
When Carden returned to Ireland he found Martin, although still veryweak, progressing rapidly. As predicted by Mrs. Moran, he had improvedsteadily since his nurses were changed--not that Julia was not a kindand attentive one, but then, she was not Kate to Martin. He was now ableto sit up and no particular restraint was placed on his talking providedthe subject was not too exciting.
Immediately on his arrival Carden communicated to his uncle the contentsof the letters received by Mrs. Stafford from Hall, and inquired whetherMr. Stafford knew what mortgages Hall actually held--at the same timeassuring him that in his opinion there was no reason to worry. Mr.Stafford knew nothing, except that he had always paid his interest toMessrs. Jones & Jones and that they had been very lenient up to the lastapplication he had made for time. He related what Hall had told himabout the way he came to be the possessor of the mortgages, and that wasall he knew. Carden then proposed consulting Martin, but Mr. Staffordobjected. He did not care to have a stranger--and after all Martin wasonly a stranger--so intimate with his affairs.
Although Mr. Stafford would not consent to consulting Martin in regardto the mortgages until it became absolutely necessary, Carden inrelating what had occurred during his illness, could not avoid somemention of them.
Martin, however, made no comment regarding the mortgages. He did notspeak for a few minutes, but when he did he startled Carden.
"Fred," he said, in his quiet determined way, "I must get back to Londonat once. There is a great deal to be done before the time for thismarriage arrives, and nothing can be accomplished by sitting herewaiting, like Micawber, for something to turn up. If anything does turnup it will not be to our advantage, and I shall be better doingsomething than idling here. So I'm off by to-night's boat."
Carden looked aghast on hearing this, but knowing the utter uselessnessof objection, simply said:
"Very well, Dick. But don't you think it would be wise to hear what thedoctor has to say about it?"
After looking at his watch, Martin replied:
"Well, as I can't get away until evening I see no objection to that;but, Fred, you know it will not make a particle of difference."
Fred knew this perfectly well, so making an excuse to get out, he setabout trying to learn in advance what the doctor would say, and ifpossible, prevent his, (Martin's) departure.
He called on Doctor Fox, and when he had told his story the physiciansimply laughed at the idea of Martin attempting to get off that evening."Why, he must be out of his head again!" he exclaimed. "The man is asweak as a child, and would die from sheer exhaustion before he reachedDublin."
"But he will go nevertheless unless we can devise some means ofpreventing him. You don't quite know your patient, Doctor. I do, and I'mvery sorry I did not consult you before telling him certain things whichI should have known would have resulted in this determination of his togo to London."
"Oh! And so, in spite of my warning, you _have_ been talking business tohim--eh? Well, sir, allow me to tell you that if your friend startsto-day or to-night, or any other time for several days, he will be onhis last journey as sure as fate! While outwardly a cool, calm fellow,he is of a highly nervous temperament, and were it not for that he wouldgo to sleep this afternoon and not awake until after the train hadgone. That would be my course with an ordinary obstreperous patient, butwith your friend it would be equally as bad as allowing him to go."
"But what are we to do?" asked Carden helplessly.
"I don't know exactly what to say," replied the doctor, slowly. "By theway! What relations, may I ask, exist between your cousin and yourfriend? Are they engaged?"
Carden seemed struck by the suggestion contained in the doctor'squestion.
"No--I wish they were! My cousin, I may tell you in confidence, Doctor,is engaged to the man with whom Dick fought, but it was not on heraccount, fortunately."
"Phew!" whistled the doctor. "Then, my friend, for some reason, you maydepend upon it, she's engaged to the wrong man! There's more in thisthan appears on the surface. Your cousin is a very deep girl and noteasily seen through, but engaged or not, your only hope of stopping yourfriend is through her. Consult her if you have an opportunity--I can donothing but warn him, and that you tell me will be waste of breath.Still, it's my duty to do it, and I shall take care that it's done inher presence. It's now about time for my call. You go ahead and seethat she is there when I arrive."
Carden departed at once, and on returning to the inn found Kate readingto Martin, who was lying back in his chair before the open window, withhalf closed eyes, drinking in the balmy air and the musical tones of thereader at the same time--the last man in the world one would suspect ofcontemplating a sudden, and, to an invalid, long and rough journey.
On Carden's entrance the reading ceased, Martin came back to earth, andthe three entered into conversation, which continued until the doctor'sarrival.
Doctor Fox made a more careful examination of Martin than usual andannounced the result.
"You are doing very well, and will be all right again in a few days,provided you keep very quiet and do not attempt too much. Over exertionjust now would ruin everything and throw you right back to the startingpoint--perhaps kill you."
"Yes," assented Martin, "I am feeling the result of your skill and thecare of my watchful nurse, who will scarcely allow me to breathe, exceptin accordance with your orders."
Carden and Kate smiled, as did the speaker himself, but the doctorpreserved his gravity. The turn of the conversation did not suit him,and he saw plainly Martin intended to avoid the subject of the trip toLondon.
"Do not underestimate the care of your watchful nurse, Mr. Martin," hesaid, very gravely. "But for that care I do not know that I could domuch for you. And be careful that you do not overestimate theimprovement that has taken place."
"So Fred's been telling you about it!" commenced Martin, lookingsignificantly toward Kate.
Ignoring the look and speaking to his patient but at the nurse, thedoctor replied:
"If by 'it' you mean your mad idea of making a trip to London in yourpresent helpless condition, he has, and it is my duty to warn you thatsuch a trip would result in your death--even before reaching yourdestination."
Martin was annoyed, and looked it. He had not intended that Kate shouldknow anything up to the last moment of his intended trip, and to quellthe conversation regarding it simply bowed in acknowledgment of thedoctor's warning.
Kate, it should have been mentioned, had only the previous night foundMartin's letter in her pocket and read it. She now knew his secret--andher own too--but as she reached the end of the letter she saw that itwas intended to have been sent her only in the event of the writer'sdeath, and now understood why it had been left on the table where shefound it. Except that it had made her a little more careful, and, ifpossible, a little more tender, Kate showed no sign of what had beenrevealed by the letter.
Doctor Fox was watching her while telling Martin that at present a tripto London meant death, and as he expected, she grew pale and lookedtroubled, but, contrary to his expectations, did not speak. He did notknow what she had learned during the night. Had it been yesterday shewould have joined forces with him and entered a vigorous protest--but itwas to-day now.
Carden knew it was useless to speak and he, too, remained silent; anddriven to his last resource, the doctor appealed directly to Kate.
"Miss Stafford, do not you, to whom our friend is so deeply indebted,think it very rash, not to say ungrateful, to throw away the result ofour labors by imperilling his life, as he will in taking this mad tripto London?"
Kate raised her eyes to find Martin gazing intently at her. It was anunexpected encounter on both sides, and caused a slight blush to mantleKate's cheeks, for she felt that if her glance expressed as much as his,Martin had learned a great deal.
With eyes cast down she replied rather confusedly that she hoped Mr.Martin would not think of going--but, of course, he knew best what todo.
; The doctor had really taken a great liking to all of the party,especially Martin and Kate, and this reply, so unlike what he hadexpected, drove him out of temper.
"And you pretend to be his friends, and yet will allow him withoutprotest to make this insane trip, knowing it will probably be his last!I'll be hanged if I can understand it! I had certainly hoped for yoursupport, Miss Stafford, but it seems you are like the rest, and I mustwash my hands of the whole affair."
The doctor had just eased his mind when he suddenly detected somethingcoming and quickly added:
"Mr. Carden, I must see you down-stairs for a moment," and withoutwaiting for a reply hurried Carden out.
"Mr. Carden," said the doctor, somewhat excitedly, as he hurried thatastonished gentleman along, "let's go right down to the bar and takesomething to drink! You may not have been aware of it, but I've taken agreat fancy to our friend and your cousin! I have, by George! And wemust take a drink on it!"
"But what the deuce has that got to do with it?" asked Carden, beginningto think the doctor had already had too much.
"Everything, my boy, everything! Our friend has by this time verysensibly decided not to go to London at present!--Two more, please."This last to the barmaid.
"Yes," he continued, answering Carden's glance, "yes, my dear boy, it isall settled by this time! I told you she was engaged to the wrong man,and I was right--but that's all over now!"
Carden looked a trifle mystified at first, but as the doctor proceeded alight began to dawn upon him. It was not very clear, however.
"What do you mean, Doctor? Surely you think that since you dragged medown here----"
"Just what I do mean!" interrupted the doctor. "How blind you fathersand mothers, cousins and brothers are! Why, if I had not dragged youdown here, as you put it, the explosion would have taken place while wewere there, but our presence would have made it premature; and like mostpremature explosions, would have resulted only in hurting allpresent--more especially the two up-stairs."
At this moment a messenger entered with two telegrams--one for Carden,the other for Martin.
Carden's telegram read:
"Have Hall here under arrest for duelling. Get me official information of fight--see O'Brien.
"BLOUNT."
With the telegram as an excuse Carden was about to return to Martin'srooms, when the doctor stopped him, saying very earnestly:
"Hold on, Mr. Carden! You appeared anxious only a short time ago to stopMartin from leaving here. He has now, I firmly believe, abandoned thatidea. Do you want to start him again with that?" indicating thetelegram. As Carden stopped hesitatingly he continued with a humorouslook: "And, besides, you should have some regard for their feelings.Just put yourself in his or her place and imagine anyone intruding soquickly!"
"Bosh!" was the irritable response of Carden, but he sat down with thedoctor and joined that gentleman in disposing of some bitter beer--"justto pass away the time."
This is what happened up-stairs.
Doctor Fox had scarcely dragged Carden out of the room before Kate burstinto tears. Martin was startled by this sudden outburst of emotion andwas very much troubled. It was no slight cause that forced such anexhibition of emotion from so reserved and proud a girl as Kate. As thecrying increased Martin become more troubled, and after a momentarystruggle surrendered.
Walking over to her with more strength and firmness than he had shownsince being wounded, Martin raised her up, and taking her in his armskissed her. She seemed to know what was coming, for from behind herhandkerchief came a tear-stained face wearing an hysterical smile toreceive his salute.
"You will not go away," she said, not inquiringly.
"No--of course not, since it troubles you."
That was all. There was no giving or asking. No questioning the right ofone or the submission of the other. It was all decided from the momentMartin had arisen from his chair--although he knew nothing about theletter.
After a half hour Doctor Fox yielded to Carden and knocked at Martin'sdoor. On entering both saw at once that something unusual had happened.Kate had removed all traces of her recent emotion and looked exceedinglybright and happy. Martin looked very complacent, his face wore a happysmile, and the mingled air of pride and ownership with which he now andthen looked at Kate tickled the doctor immensely.
"I have to crave your pardon for our hurrying away," said the doctor,immediately on entering, "but I really had something of importance tosay to Mr. Carden."
"All right, Doctor!" replied Martin, and as he tore open the telegramexclaimed: "By Jupiter! What does this mean?"
"Well, what is to be done?" asked Carden. "You are the only person inthe place capable of giving the authorities the necessary information.O'Brien is away in some horrible place with a worse name; the surgeonskipped off as soon as he thought you were going to die, and Carroll isoff in Scotland shooting. You are the only one left to give theinformation."
"And from me it will never be obtained! I was a fool to go into thething at all, but my being a fool is no reason that he should bepunished. It was perfectly fair and he took greater chances than Idid--though he was not aware of it."
"Good!" exclaimed the doctor.
Kate smiled approval. Carden gave it up.
Harry Blount, the Detective; Or, The Martin Mystery Solved Page 19