Jacob's Ladder

by E. Phillips Oppenheim

  CHAPTER XVII

  "The aristocracy," Dauncey remarked the next morning, as he broughtJacob his private letters, "is sitting up and taking notice of us. Twocoronets!"

  "Anything in the rest of the correspondence?" Jacob enquired, as heopened his desk and made himself comfortable.

  "Nothing worth your troubling about. Five or six addle-headed schemesfor getting rid of your money, and about as many bucket shopprospectuses."

  Jacob opened the first of his two letters. It was dated from BelgraveSquare and was simply a cordial reminder from the Marchioness of hispromise to dine at Delchester House on the following Thursday. Thesecond was dated from the same address, and Jacob read it over twicebefore he came to a decision.

  Dear Mr. Pratt,

  I know you will think me very foolish, but I am feeling most unhappy about the money which I thoughtlessly accepted this afternoon. It was really only a sovereign I asked you to put on Gerrard's Cross for me, and the remainder of the money, except nine pounds, surely belongs to you.

  Are you, by any chance, ever near Kensington Gardens about twelve o'clock? I walk there most mornings, and I should feel so much happier if I could have just a word with you about this.

  Please don't think I am quite mad.

  Sincerely yours, Mary Felixstowe.

  Jacob dictated a few letters, studied his stockbroker's list for halfan hour, and drove to Kensington Gardens. Lady Mary was almost thefirst person he saw. She greeted him with a friendly little nod andled him from the broad avenue into one of the narrower paths. From thefirst he had been aware that Lady Mary, escaped from the shadow of herparents, was a very different person.

  "Well?" she asked, smiling at him, "what did you think of my ingenuouslittle letter?"

  Jacob glanced at her doubtfully. He had the impression that she wasreading his thoughts.

  "You probably decided that it would amuse you to fall in with thescheme," she continued, "although I expect you saw through it quiteeasily. Well, the scheme doesn't really exist. My mother dictated theletter and I wrote it. I haven't the least idea of giving you back apenny of that money--in fact, it's all spent already. Still, if youlike, you can think of me as the ingenue with a conscience, who wantsreassuring but doesn't want to part. That was my role."

  "I see that you have your brother's sense of humour," he remarked.

  "Heaven knows where we got it from!" she exclaimed. "Mother's ideaappears to be that, as a result of this clandestine interview, I am towalk in Kensington Gardens with you every morning until one day wefind ourselves late for luncheon and you take me to a restaurant.Compromising situation number one. Intoxicated with pleasure, Ihint--you not being supposed to notice that it is a hint--at a dinnerand theatre. We go, are discovered, my mother asks your intentions.Behold me, Lady Mary Pratt, restoring the family to a condition ofaffluence."

  Jacob laughed till the tears stood in his eyes.

  "The idea doesn't seem to appeal to you!"

  "Not a bit," she answered frankly. "I like you very much--I like thelittle crease about your eyes, which deepens when you laugh. And Ilike your mouth. But as a matter of fact, I'm rather in love with someone else, and I'm going to marry him soon. He's got quite enough moneyfor me, although he can't carry the family."

  Jacob sighed.

  "I am in the same position," he confessed, "only the girl I'm in lovewith won't have anything to say to me."

  Two pudgy little children suddenly deserted their attendant and rushedat Lady Mary. While she was returning their embraces, Jacob stoodtransfixed. So did the attendant.

  "Miss Bultiwell!" he gasped.

  "Jacob Pratt!"

  Lady Mary looked up.

  "So you two know one another?"

  "Young lady I was just telling you about," Jacob confided.

  Lady Mary held out a hand to each of her small nieces.

  "May I have the children for a few minutes, Miss Bultiwell, please?"she begged. "You come along with Mr. Pratt."

  Sybil's response was scarcely gracious. She accepted the situation,however, and walked slowly by Jacob's side.

  "I'm very glad to see you, Miss Bultiwell," he ventured.

  "Sorry I can't say the same," she replied.

  "Is there any reason," he asked desperately, "why you shouldn't treatme like an ordinary human being?"

  "There is."

  "What is it?"

  "You know."

  "I'm damned if I do!"

  She glanced at him without any sign of offence.

  "What are you doing walking with Lady Mary in Kensington Gardens atthis time of the morning?" she enquired.

  "Her mother's idea," Jacob explained. "Nothing to do with us."

  She regarded him thoughtfully.

  "I suppose you're to marry Lady Mary and redeem the family fortunes!"

  "The idea doesn't appeal to either of us," he assured her. "Lady Maryhas just confided to me that she is in love with some one else, and Ihave made a similar confession to her."

  "Are you in love with some one else?"

  "Yes!"

  "Who? Me?"

  "Yes!"

  "Is there any sense," she demanded, "in being in love with a personwho, as you perfectly well know, thoroughly dislikes and detests you?"

  "There's no sense in love at all," Jacob groaned.

  "If we must talk," Sybil suggested, quickening her pace a little, "letus talk of something else. How are you enjoying your millions?"

  "Not at all."

  "Why not?"

  "I'm lonely."

  "Poor man!" she scoffed.

  Lady Mary rejoined them.

  "Well, I must go," she announced. "Take me to the gates, won't you,Mr. Pratt? Good-by, Miss Bultiwell. How these children have improvedsince you had the charge of them."

  "Au revoir, Miss Bultiwell," Jacob ventured.

  She leaned towards him as he turned to follow Lady Mary.

  "If you come back," she whispered threateningly, "it will cost me mysituation and I will never speak to you again."

  "I won't come," he promised sadly.

  "She's a charming girl," Lady Mary said. "Why won't she have you?"

  "It's a long story," Jacob sighed.

  "We'll see what we can do on Thursday night," she reflected. "Good-by!I shall tell mother we are getting along famously. Don't forgetThursday at eight o'clock."

  * * * * *

  The drawing-room at Delchester House was large and in its waymagnificent, although there was in the atmosphere that faint, mustyodour, as though holland covers had just been removed from thefurniture, and the place only recently prepared for habitation. TheMarchioness, who was alone, greeted Jacob with much cordiality.

  "I hope you won't mind our not having a party for you, Mr. Pratt," shesaid. "We are just ourselves, and a quaint person whom Delchester haspicked up in the city, some one who is going to help him make somemoney, I hope. You have no idea, Mr. Pratt, how hard things are to-dayfor people with inherited estates."

  Jacob murmured a word of sympathy. Then the Marquis appeared, followedby Lady Mary, who drew him to one side to ask him questions aboutSybil; next came Felixstowe, who looked in to say "How do you do" onhis way to dine with a friend; and finally, to Jacob's amazement, thebutler announced, "Mr. Dane Montague!"

  Mr. Dane Montague, in a new dress suit, his hair treated by a West Endhairdresser, had a generally toned-down appearance. Jacob wasconscious of a sensation of genuine admiration when, upon theintroduction being effected, the newcomer held out his hand withoutthe slightest embarrassment.

  "I have the pleasure of knowing Mr. Pratt," he announced. "We have, infact, carried through a little business deal together. Not such a badone, either, eh, Mr. Pratt? A few thousands each, or something of thatsort, if I remember rightly. Even a few thousands are worth picking upfor us city men, Marquis," he added, turning to Lord Delchester.

  The
Marquis' eyes glistened. His face seemed more hawklike than ever.

  "I should be exceedingly grateful to any one who showed me how to makea few thousands," he declared.

  "Well, Mr. Pratt and I between us ought to find that easy enough,"the financier observed. "Treat the City right, pat and stroke her theright way, and she'll yield you all you ask for. Buck up against herand she'd down a Rothschild."

  Dinner was a quaint meal. Mr. Dane Montague engaged his hostess'attention with fragments of stilted conversation, the Marquis wasalmost entirely silent, and Lady Mary monopolised Jacob, except for afew moments when her mother alluded to the subject of the letter.

  "Dear Mary is so conscientious," she murmured. "She positivelycouldn't rest until she had had it out with you."

  Jacob stammered some sort of answer, which was none the more coherentbecause of the kick under the table with which Lady Mary favoured him.Afterwards she continued to carry out the parental behest and againcompletely absorbed his attention. She wound up by lingering behind,as he held open the door at the conclusion of dinner, and whisperingaudaciously in his ear.

  "We're getting on too well, you know. You'd better be careful, or Ishall be Lady Mary Pratt, after all!"

  The Marquis moved his chair down to the side of Jacob's, on thelatter's return to the table.

  "I am glad to see you on such excellent terms with my daughter, Mr.Pratt," he observed with a smile.

  "Lady Mary is most gracious," Jacob murmured uneasily.

  "My son, too," the Marquis continued, "has always spoken to me highlyof your sagacity in business affairs. I understand that you are one ofthose fortunate people who have amassed a large fortune in a veryshort space of time."

  "I cannot take any of the credit to myself," Jacob replied. "Iinvested a little money with my brother, who was prospecting for oilin the western States of America, and he met with the most amazingsuccess."

  The Marquis himself filled Jacob's glass.

  "I hope you like my port," he said. "It was laid down by my fatherwhen he was a young man. My cellar is one of the last of the familytreasures remaining to us."

  "I have never tasted anything like it," Jacob admitted truthfully.

  "Returning to the subject of commercial life," his host went on, "Ihave always hoped that I might have introduced my son, Felixstowe,into some remunerative post. Automobiles, they tell me, may be made aprofitable source of income. Do you happen to have any investments inthat direction, Mr. Pratt?"

  "Not at present," Jacob answered. "The industry is, I believe, a soundone."

  "Ah!" the Marquis regretted. "At some future time, perhaps. I myselfam much interested in City affairs. Our friend, Mr. Dane Montague,has kindly placed me upon the board of one of his companies, and ifanother company in which he is interested is floated, I am also tojoin that. The fees so far have not been munificent, but it isencouraging to have made a start."

  Jacob muttered something noncommittal. Mr. Dane Montague leaned acrossthe table. He had been listening to every word of the conversationbetween the two.

  "You are a person of imagination, Mr. Pratt," he said. "I gatheredthat from our brief business connection."

  "Did you?" Jacob replied. "I had rather an idea--"

  "Don't say a word," the other interrupted. "We had a little tussle, Iadmit. Brain against brain, and you won. I have never borne you anymalice--in fact I should be proud to be associated in another businessventure with you."

  The Marquis cleared his throat.

  "I asked Mr. Pratt to meet you this evening, Mr. Montague," he said,"not knowing that you were previously acquainted, but thinking thatyou might like to put your latest scheme before him."

  "I shall be proud to do so," was the prompt declaration. "My latestscheme, Mr. Pratt, is simple enough. I propose to appeal to thecredulity of the British middle classes. I propose to form a sort ofhome university for the study of foreign languages and dispenseinstruction by means of pamphlets."

  "I don't mean that one," the Marquis interposed. "I mean the littlescheme, the--er--one where a certain amount of remuneration in theshape of commission was to be forthcoming for the introduction offurther capital. You follow me, I am sure?"

  Mr. Montague's face was furrowed with thought. He sipped his wine andlooked across at Jacob furtively. A certain uneasiness was mingledwith his natural optimism.

  "I am afraid," he said, "that Mr. Pratt is too big a man for us. Whatabout your brother-in-law, Lord William Thorndyke?"

  The Marquis coughed.

  "I think," he pronounced, "that I have already been too benevolent tothe members of my immediate family circle. Besides, it would be quiteimpossible to ensure from my brother-in-law that measure of secrecywhich the circumstances demand."

  Mr. Montague took another glass of wine and appeared to gain courage.

  "It's quite a small affair, this, Pratt," he warned him.

  "As a matter of fact," Jacob declared, "I am really not looking forinvestments at all at the moment."

  "No one is ever looking for investments," his _vis-a-vis_ rejoined."On the other hand, no man with large means sees a gold mine openingat his feet without wanting to have his whack. If you see our littleventure with the same eyes as we do, Mr. Pratt, it is better for youto understand from the first that yours must be a very small whack."

  "Hadn't you better explain the scheme to Mr. Pratt?" the Marquissuggested.

  Mr. Dane Montague nodded. First of all, however, he rose to his feet,promenaded the room, peering into its darker recesses to be sure thatno one was lurking there, opened the door, looked down the passage,closed it again, and finally returned to his seat. He then dropped hisbomb.

  "I am in possession," he announced solemnly, "of an undertaking fromthe owner of the Empress Music Hall to sell me the property."

  "For how much?" Jacob asked.

  "For fifty thousand pounds, including the freehold. Hush! Not anotherword for the moment."

  The butler entered with coffee and liqueurs, and the Marquis directedthe conversation into other channels. As soon as they were aloneagain, Mr. Montague leaned forward across the table, his cigar in thecorner of his mouth.

  "You mustn't ask too many questions about this, Pratt," he enjoined."The undertaking was given to me in a fit of temper after a familyrow, and with the sole view of spiting others. The date fixed for thecompletion of the sale is to-morrow. I have contributed half thepurchase money myself. The remainder has been distributed amongst myown friends, and it has been my privilege to allow the Marquis andsome of his relatives to acquire an interest. To make up the fullamount, a sum of seven thousand pounds is required. This I can getfrom a dozen people as soon as the office is open in the Cityto-morrow morning, but I promised the Marquis here to give him achance of placing this amount also with one of his friends. I mustconfess," Mr. Montague went on candidly, "that I took that to mean oneof his--er--personal friends--perhaps one of the family. I have beentrying to keep the thing out of the City as much as possible."

  "My acquaintance with Mr. Pratt," the Marquis confessed, "is not oflong date, but my son has enjoyed his friendship for some time, and heseems likely to become, if I may say so, a--er--a friend of thefamily."

  The financier's smile was meant to be waggish.

  "I fancied that I detected indications of the sort," he declared.

  "Have you any documents?" Jacob asked.

  "I have the undertaking to sell," Mr. Montague replied, "signed, ofcourse, by Peter. Also a letter from a well-known firm of solicitors,who have examined the undertaking to sell, pronouncing it legal. I canalso, if you like, supply you with a list of the contributors."

  Jacob accepted the documents and studied them. The undertaking to sellthe place of amusement known as Empress Music Hall was simply butclearly worded, and signed by "W. Peter"; also by two witnesses.

  "That seems to be in order," Jacob admitted, "except that I alwaysthought Peter spelt his name 'Petre.'"

  "Swank," Montague scoffed. "As a matter of fact, thoug
h, I thought somyself until I saw the signature."

  Jacob examined the letter from the solicitors. It was brief andconclusive:

  Dear Sir,

  Re the Empress Music Hall. We have examined the undertaking for the disposal of the above, signed by the owner and addressed to you, and we find the same duly in order and a legal document.

  Faithfully, Danesworthy & Bryan.

  The third paper contained a list of the contributors. Mr. Montagueheaded the list with twenty-five thousand pounds. The Marquis was downfor five thousand. The other names, ranging from three thousand tofive hundred, were all people of title, many of them relatives of theMarquis.

  "Sounds like a Court guide," Jacob remarked, passing it back.

  "I have been privileged," the Marquis observed, stroking hisgrey moustache, "as Mr. Montague has already told you, to placehis proposition before various members of my family. I havefound them, one and all, anxious to share in the profits of Mr.Montague's--er--enterprise."

  "When the purchase of the Empress Music Hall is concluded, what do youpropose to do with it?" Jacob enquired.

  "Sell it to a company for a hundred and fifty thousand," Mr. Montagueanswered, "and divide the profits of the sale amongst the contributorsaccording to their holding. The Marquis holds an agreement signed byme to that effect."

  "That is so," his lordship acquiesced.

  Jacob was frankly puzzled.

  "I don't understand, Mr. Montague, how you got that undertaking," heconfessed. "I saw an interview with Mr. Peter in the papers the otherday, in which he denied having sold the 'Empress' or even proposing todo so."

  "That's the commonest bluff going," the other pointed out. "Alwaysdone. And see here, Pratt, this is the truth of the matter. The profitor the loss on the sale of the 'Empress' wouldn't go into Peter'spocket at all. It would go into the pockets of people with whom he isat present on very bad terms. This sale does them in the eye. That'sthe long and short of it."

  "I see no reason," Jacob decided, after a few moments' consideration,"why I should not join in this enterprise. If you will allow me, Iwill telephone for my cheque book."

  "Certainly," the Marquis agreed, "and in the meantime we can make ourpeace with the ladies."