by Fergus Hume
CHAPTER VIII
HAVERLEIGH'S DEFENCE
Thanks to the care of Dr James, and the nursing of Mrs Jeal, the sickgirl took a turn for the better. In a remarkably short space of time shebegan to improve, and when Leo arrived back in Colester she was on afair way of recovery. Although the doctor did not like Mrs Jeal, hecould not but admit that no mother could have been kinder than themidwife. She waited hand and foot, day and night, on Pearl, and refusedto let anyone take her place, even when she was worn out with watching.In the middle of her trouble she was called away to London.
One day shortly after the theft of the cup she received a telegram fromTown informing her that her father was seriously ill, and that she wasto come up at once if she wanted to see him alive. Now, if there was onestrong feeling Mrs Jeal possessed it was love for her father, of whomshe often spoke. Much as she liked Pearl, she was not prepared to staybeside her in the face of such a summons. The old man might die if shedelayed.
"I can get Joan Barker in to nurse Pearl," she said to the doctor, "andgo at once to London. I may be away a week or two."
"Humph!" said James, running his eye over the telegram. "I suppose youmust go; the matter seems urgent. Mrs Barker is not so good a nurse asyou, though."
"But Pearl is much better, doctor," said Mrs Jeal, anxiously.
"Yes, I'll pull her through. Well, pack your traps, Mrs Jeal. Myself andMr Raston will attend to Pearl with the assistance of Mrs Barker. Youmust leave me some address, though, in case anything goes wrong duringyour absence. Not that I think anything will; Pearl is mending rapidly."
Mrs Jeal gave an address in a humble Battersea street, and in a fewhours was ready for the road. She took a tender leave of Pearl, to whomshe appeared to be sincerely attached, and that same morning left forPortfront by a carrier's waggon. When she departed the village was stillfilled with anxiety regarding the loss of the cup.
As has been said before, no railway had yet opened up the solitudes ofColester and King's-meadows. But those who wished to get quickly toLondon took the steamer from Portfront, and in a few hours came toWorthing, at which place a train was easily procurable. Mrs Jeal tookthis route, and having started early she arrived in Town that samenight. She sent a wire telling of her arrival to Dr James. He showed itto Sir Frank Hale.
"Quick work," said James; "yet we are far enough away from the worldhere."
"That's true," replied the baronet. "So Mrs Jeal has gone to Town! Isaw her at Portfront when I was there yesterday morning. It is not oftenshe goes to Town. I suppose she does not wish to lose the money."
"The money, Hale? What do you mean?"
"Why, it seems, from what Mrs Jeal told me, that her father is not badlyoff, and if he dies she will come into a tidy bit of money. There areother relatives, though, and she was afraid lest they should get the oldman to leave the fortune to them."
"Fortune!" said James, with a smile; "a large word for a small legacy."
"I don't know so much about that," responded the cripple, snappishly."From what the woman told me, her father is well off. He was a porter orsomething in a stockbroker's office, and dabbled in mines himself. Itseems he was lucky in his speculations and made money. By the way,James, has Haverleigh turned up yet?"
"No, but I heard that Mr Pratt had sent a telegram to him. I expect hewill wonder what is the matter that Pratt should ask him to come back."
"Not he!" growled Hale. "He knows well enough."
"Why, Hale, you don't believe he stole the cup?"
The cripple remained silent for a time. "It is a difficult thing for meto say," he finally remarked. "You know, James, that my sister Edith isdeeply in love with the man. I don't like him myself; I never did. Butif he would marry my sister I should not decline the alliance. I put herhappiness before my own feelings. Well, under the circumstances, Ireally am not prepared to give an opinion. I know that Leo was in debt,and it is common talk that Mrs Gabriel refused to pay his debts; yet sheinformed me that he went up to London to settle them. Now, he must havegot the money from somewhere, and who would trust him?"
"It looks black against him, I confess," replied James, shaking hishead; "still, I cannot believe that Haverleigh would sink to being acommon thief. You will see when he returns that he will be able toexplain."
"If he ever _does_ return," growled Hale, doubtfully.
"He will. Why, Miss Tempest believes in him, and he must come back ifonly to justify her faith. I believe those two are in love with oneanother, Hale. Well, they will make a handsome couple."
"He will have to get back his good name first," retorted Hale,jealously. "And as to there being anything between them--I don't believeit. Good-day, James. Don't go spreading cock-and-bull stories."
As the baronet walked off the doctor looked after him with a smile ofcontempt. He knew that Hale was madly in love with the vicar's daughter,and that he regarded Leo as a too successful rival. "You'll be delightedif the poor chap comes to harm," muttered James; "you are a viper! But Iam sure Haverleigh will clear himself. A girl like Sybil Tempest is notlikely to be deceived in the character of the man she loves. I wouldrather believe her than you, Sir Frank Hale!" And James, who had nogreat love for the spiteful little cripple, walked away to see Pearl.
By this time the opinion was that Leo would not return. It was positive,said the gossips, that he had stolen the cup in order to procure moneyfor the payment of his debts. The most likely thing was that he wouldclear out of the country.
"What fools these people are," said Pratt, who heard this. "If the manintended to leave the country he certainly would not pay his debts. Onlya heaven-born ass would do that. He would take the money himself andleave his creditors unpaid." But the gossips did not see matters in thatlight. They were bent upon thinking the worst of Leo.
All this time Mrs Gabriel said nothing, but remained shut up in thecastle. She knew well enough what was being said about Leo, and couldnot bear to face anyone, the more particularly as she did not know howto defend him. She denied herself to everyone, even to Pratt, althoughhe called several times to interview her on behalf of her nephew. Theyoung man had a strong defender in Pratt. He went about everywhereinsisting on Haverleigh's innocence. In this opinion he was supported bySybil, by the curate, and, strange to say, by Mrs Bathurst.
"The whole thing is absolute nonsense," said Mrs Bathurst. "Why shouldMr Haverleigh be such a fool? Mrs Gabriel would have paid his debts inthe long run. And then if he had not wished to pay them himself, hecould have enlisted and slipped away to Africa without anyone being thewiser. Then there's another thing. He would not commit a crime for sucha purpose. If he was in difficulties before, he would not make themworse by putting himself within reach of the law." All of which wascommon-sense, although Leo's enemies were too much bent on thinking theworst of him to accept such a reasonable view.
It was while matters were in this state that Leo Haverleigh returned. Hedrove up to the castle one night without informing anyone of his coming.Mrs Gabriel was amazed when he presented himself before her. He lookedbright and cheerful, not at all like a man who had been accused of asordid crime. But it must be remembered that Leo knew nothing of his newreputation. All he knew was that Pratt, at the instance of Sybil, hadrecalled him to Colester. He thought that this telegram had to do withsome new difficulty with regard to his love affairs.
"Good evening, mother," he said as he marched into the room where MrsGabriel was sitting. "I have returned, you see."
"And are you not ashamed?" cried Mrs Gabriel, rising, with a wrathfulexpression. "I thought some feeling of decency would have kept youaway."
"Oh, come now, mother," returned Leo, trying to keep his temper, "I amnot so bad as all that. If I have been foolish and extravagant, surelyyou can forgive. Besides, my debts are paid. I am a free man."
"You won't be a free man long," said Mrs Gabriel, grimly. "I am willingto do what I can for you, badly as you have treated me. But I cannotcondone a felony! That is out of the question."
Leo
stared and sat down. "You use very extraordinary words," he said atlength. "I never heard that a man who was in debt could be called afelon. Come, mother," he went on, trying to be amiable--a difficult taskwith a woman like this. "Don't use big words for a trifle. I intended toenlist, but I thought I would come down first to see you and talk thematter over. You have been kind to me and I do not want to part inanger. Let us arrange matters in a kindly spirit."
Mrs Gabriel looked at him aghast at his boldness. "How dare you speak tome like this," she cried. "Are you not aware that everyone in Colesteris talking of your crime?"
"Crime!" Leo started to his feet. "What crime?" He looked bewildered.
"As if you didn't know! I wonder you have the impertinence to come backhere! How much did you sell the cup for?"
Leo still looked puzzled. "Cup!" he echoed. "What cup?"
Mrs Gabriel grasped him by the shoulders and shook him, her eyes blazingwith anger. "You are absolutely shameless," she cried. "I mean the cupwhich Mr Pratt presented to the chapel, and you know too! It has beenstolen, and _you_ are the thief."
Haverleigh stared at her for a moment and then burst out laughing. "Isthis a joke, mother?" he said at length. "If so, it is a very poorone."
"It is not a joke," retorted Mrs Gabriel, still angry. "The cup wasmissing on the very morning you went up to London. You stole it, Leo,and took it away to pay your debts. I never--"
"Nor did I!" cried Haverleigh, now beginning to lose his temper. "Whodares to say such a thing about me?"
"The whole village says it, and everyone believes it."
"Does Sybil?"
"I don't know; nor do I care. And so far as she is concerned, you neednot think to marry her. Mr Tempest will never let his daughter becomethe wife of a--"
"Stop!" cried Leo, before she could utter the shameful word. "How dareyou call me by a foul name? I know perfectly well you hate me; but youhave no right to believe that I did this thing. I know that Sybilbelieves me guiltless. She would never credit the man she loves withsuch a contemptible crime. And Pratt believes in me also. He sent me atelegram asking me to come back. I thought it had to do with sometrouble you had made over my engagement to Sybil. I never expected this.How dare you accuse me of such a crime?"
"The whole village accuses you," said Mrs Gabriel, passionately. "Youhave paid your debts. I know you have. Where did you get the money? Notfrom me--not from Pratt, for I asked him. And Barker saw you lurkingabout the chapel on Sunday night at a late hour. What were you doingthere if it was not to steal? Oh, shame upon you, Leo! How can youstand there and deny your guilt?"
"Because I am not guilty!" cried Leo, furiously. "I tell you I did notsteal the cup. I did not even know that it was lost. I _was_ near thechapel on that night and at that hour. I can explain why I was there."
"Explain then," said Mrs Gabriel, with a stamp.
"Not to you, and not until I have thought over my position. Everyoneseems to have judged me guilty without giving me an opportunity ofdefending myself."
"You cannot," muttered Mrs Gabriel. "You dare not!"
The scorn of her speech carried Leo beyond all bounds of prudence. Hehad not intended to defend himself until he had consulted with Pratt.The situation was so unpleasant and dangerous that he wanted an olderand wiser head than his own to deal with the matter. But Mrs Gabriel'staunt made him forget his resolutions. "I dare, and I can!" he burstout. "I went to the chapel to meet Sybil. Her father would not let ussee one another, so we had to do so by stealth. I was going away onMonday morning, and she wished for a meeting, as I did myself. In herpew she left a note, and she let me know by signs during the servicethat she had done so. I looked in the vicar's pew after the service wasover, and found that she asked me to meet her at the door of the chapelshortly after nine. I was there, and I saw old Barker going away. Ithink he saw me, but as I did not wish to attract attention, I kept outof his way as much as possible. Sybil came about half-past nine, perhapslater, and we had a talk. Then I took her back to the Vicarage, andreturned here to sleep. I was on my way to Portfront by seven in themorning. That is all I know."
"A likely story," sneered Mrs Gabriel. "I do not believe one word ofit."
Leo looked at her with great dignity. "If you do not choose to believeme I cannot make you," he said; "but from this moment all is at an endbetween us. God knows why you hate me so. I have done nothing to deserveit. What I have told you is the truth. Sybil can vouch for it. I havesome hesitation in asking her to do so, as she will have to say that shewas alone with me at that late hour, and you know well what the gossipswill say. Still, if I am in danger of arrest, she will come forward,although I would rather suffer myself than that she should be lightlyspoken of. I shall see her, and her father. For some reason best knownto you, Mrs Gabriel, Mr Tempest has taken a dislike to me. But he is ajust man, and I am sure he does not believe me guilty."
"You'd better see him and ask," said Mrs Gabriel, tartly. "I say againthat I don't believe your explanation. Where did you get the money topay your debts if it was not from selling the cup?"
"I borrowed it," retorted Leo, after a pause. "I did not intend to tellyou, but it seems I must, in order to clear my character. You would nothelp me, and Pratt was not ready to do so. I daresay if I had pressedhim he would have helped me, but I did not think it right he should payfor my folly. I borrowed the money, if you must know, from Frank Hale."
Mrs Gabriel, who had seated herself, looked at the young manindignantly.
"Why will you tell these lies?" she said, trying to speak calmly. "I hadan idea that Hale might have assisted you, and I went to see him. Heabsolutely denies that he lent you a penny."
Leo looked bewildered. "He denies the debt," said he. "Why he has myacknowledgment! He gave me the three hundred pounds in gold on Sundaymorning. I packed it in a Gladstone bag, and took it to London with me.There I paid it into my bank, and gave my creditors cheques for--"
"In gold!" burst out Mrs Gabriel, contemptuously. "Is it likely that inthese days a man would pay such a large sum otherwise than by cheque?Why, if you said notes it would be more reasonable, but gold--bah!"
"I tell you he did," said Leo, now thoroughly angry. "I wondered myselfat the time, and I mentioned to Sybil how inconvenient it was. I askedHale for notes, for a cheque, he refused both, and said I must take themoney as he chose to give it, or not at all. He gave it to me in threebags, each containing a hundred sovereigns. I paid that into my Londonbank."
"Oh, I daresay you did," sneered Mrs Gabriel. "But you should have got abetter price for the cup."
"You still believe me guilty," cried Leo, recoiling.
"I do. Hale denies that he paid you the money."
"I shall see him about it to-morrow," said Leo. "He will not dare todeny what is the truth. And I leave the castle this very night, MrsGabriel. I shall never call you 'mother' again. You are cruel andwicked. Tell me why you hate me so."
Mrs Gabriel's eyes flashed. "If I told you that--" she began, thenclosed her mouth and turned away.
"Then you _do_ hate me?"
"Yes. With all my soul!" She turned on him like a fury. "I have hatedyou from the moment you came into my house. All these years I have beenon the point of turning you out. Go now, and never darken my doorsagain. I was a fool to have anything to do with you. Go! Go!"
For a moment Leo stood bewildered at her furious speech. He thought shewas mad, for he could not conceive why she should speak so. It wasuseless to talk or to remonstrate, or to seek an explanation. He lookedat her for a moment, then, without a word, he walked away. In anotherquarter of an hour he had left the castle, bag and baggage.
"Thank God!" cried Mrs Gabriel when alone. "I am rid of him at last!"