The Third Volume

by Fergus Hume

  CHAPTER XXXI.

  AN EVENING AT THE VICARAGE.

  THE Vicar of Thorston was a severe man, a trifle narrow in his views,and imperious of temper; but he was also fond of good cheer andhospitality--virtues which cover a multitude of sins. Those who sat athis table were sure of a capital dinner and an excellent glass of wine;for his cook and cellar were both undeniable. Report said that Mr.Linton was afraid of his cook, for that good lady had a hot temper, andfeared no man. Many were the battles between her and the vicar, butbeing a perfect mistress of the culinary art, she invariably came offvictor. She had her faults, but she was a jewel of a cook, and wasvalued accordingly.

  On this special evening the vicar had assembled ten people, includinghimself, round his hospitable board. Mr. and Mrs. Hilliston were theprincipal guests, and Claude was also honored with special attention. Anold couple named Densham, garrulous and pleasant, had likewise beeninvited; and they, with their daughter and Jenny Paynton, completed theparty. To Claude was assigned Miss Paynton, while to Frank Linton wasgiven the Densham damsel, an arrangement which was anything but pleasingto that jealous young man, or indeed to Miss Densham, who thought thefamous author a grumpy creature. He was too preoccupied to please hertaste.

  Claude thought he had never seen Mrs. Hilliston to such disadvantage.She appeared ill at ease, and was haggard and pale of face, lookingevery year of her age. Even the rich dress and splendid jewels she worefailed to conceal the ravages of time; and in the neighborhood of thefresh beauty of the two girls she seemed an old woman. She felt thisherself, for Claude noted that she threw an envious glance at theblooming faces of her rivals, and surveyed her wan looks in the nearestglass with a sigh. To her the party was purgatory.

  Nor did the lawyer appear to enjoy himself. He was moody and fretful,though every now and then he forced himself to be merry, but his laughwas hollow, and the careworn expression of his face belied his untimelymirth. Sometimes he stole a furtive look at Claude, and seemed to broodover the young man's changed manner; for, do what he could, Larcher,deeming his old friend an enemy, could not behave with his formercordiality. He was ill-suited for a diplomat.

  The dinner passed off with moderate success. Frank was complimented onhis book, and the prosy couple had to be told the main points of thestory. This brief recital made at least three people uncomfortable; forClaude raised his eyes to encounter an angry glance from Hilliston, anda deprecating one from Jenny. They were relieved when the vicar, who byno means approved of such attention being bestowed on a trashy novel,even though his son was the author, turned the conversation into anotherchannel. Mr. Linton liked to lead the conversation at his own table.

  "I wish to speak to you particularly, Claude," whispered Mrs. Hilliston,as he held the door open for the ladies to retire; "do not be long overyour wine."

  "I will come as soon as I can," he replied, and returned to his seat,wondering what she could have to say to him. He was not left long indoubt, for Mr. Hilliston entered into conversation as soon as theglasses were filled and the cigars lighted. This was the moment forwhich he had longed for the whole evening.

  "Why isn't your friend Tait here to-night?" he asked, in a casual tone,feigning a lightness he did not feel.

  "Did not Mr. Linton tell you?" replied Claude, prepared for this query."He had to go to town on business."

  "On business," murmured Hilliston uneasily; "anything to do with thiscase you have taken up?"

  "I can't say. Tait did not particularly state his errand."

  The lawyer sipped his wine, looked thoughtfully at the end of the cigar,and pondered for a few minutes. He wished to speak of Claude's changedbehavior toward himself, yet did not know how to begin. At length hebluntly blurted out a question, straightforward and to the point. Thiswas undiplomatic, but at times human nature is too strong for training.

  "We are not such good friends as of yore, Claude. How is that?"

  "I think you can guess the reason," replied Larcher, not ill pleased tofight out the point, for he hated being forced into doubtful civility."It is this case which has come between us. I do not think you aregiving me what help you ought to, Mr. Hilliston."

  "I can give you no help," said the lawyer, drawing his heavy browstogether. "You know as much as I do. No doubt your meddlesome friendknows more."

  "It is not improbable. But you can prove your honesty in the matter bydoing me a favor."

  "My honesty, sir, has never been called into question yet," saidHilliston, injudiciously losing his temper, always a prelude to defeat."And I have no call to defend myself to one to whom I have been afather. Still I am willing to grant you what you wish, in reason."

  "Very good! Then introduce me to Mr. Paynton."

  "I'm afraid that is out of my power," replied Hilliston, shaking hishead. "You know the man's ways, I think. He is a hermit, a misanthrope,and does not care for company. Why do you wish to know him?"

  "For various reasons," answered Larcher, coloring with someembarrassment. He was by no means willing to take Mr. Hilliston into hisconfidence.

  His old guardian looked at him shrewdly, and, remembering certain smallcircumstances connected with Jenny, guessed, with the skill of anexperienced character reader, how the land lay. At once he formed aresolution to further Claude's interests in the matter, hoping, and notunjustly, that should the lad be taken in the toils of love, he mightstop further investigation of the case, an end which Hilliston muchdesired to gain.

  "Oh!" said he not unkindly, "sits the wind in that quarter? Well, I willaid you. In a few days I will try and induce Mr. Paynton to see you, andthen perhaps you may succeed."

  "Succeed in what?" demanded Claude sharply, hardly relishing thisperspicuity.

  "Why, in this love-suit of yours. Aye, aye, Claude, I can see what youaim at, old as I am. Well, she is a pretty girl, clever and worthy. Iknow of no woman who would make you a better wife. You have my bestwishes for your success."

  "And you will introduce me to her father?"

  "I'll try to, but I won't promise confidently. Paynton is a strangecreature and may refuse to see you. By the way," added Hilliston, asthough struck with a sudden thought, "what was my wife saying to you atthe door?"

  "She was requesting me to speak to her in the drawing room. There isnothing wrong, I hope? She does not look well."

  "Oh, nothing wrong, nothing wrong!" replied Hilliston easily, rising tohis feet as the vicar moved toward the door. "She is fond of you, mydear boy, and is anxious about the case."

  "Anxious about the case," thought Larcher, as he followed his host intothe drawing room; "that is strange. She can have no interest in it. H'm!I'll try the effect of Tait's destination on her. He said I would beastonished at the result. I am beginning to be so already."

  Perhaps Jenny had overheard the whisper in the dining room, and wassufficiently taken with Larcher to be jealous of his attentions to Mrs.Hilliston, old though she deemed her, for, before he could cross over towhere the lawyer's wife was seated, Jenny beckoned to him with herimperious finger. He could do nothing but obey, despite the frown whichdarkened Mrs. Hilliston's face, as she saw, and, with womanly instinct,guessed the maneuver.

  "Come and sit down here," whispered Jenny, under cover of the music, forMiss Densham was at the piano. "I have not seen you for several days."

  "That is not my fault," said Claude, delighted at the interest thusdisplayed; "you stay so much indoors. I have been looking for youeverywhere."

  "Have you, indeed, Mr. Larcher?" said Jenny, with feigned surprise. "Andwhy, may I ask?"

  "Oh, for no particular purpose, unless, indeed, it was to ask you forfurther information concerning the novel."

  "Hush. Not a word of that. I can't speak of it to you. I know who youare, Mr. Larcher, but I am ignorant of the tragedy save what I told toFrank, and later on to Mr. Tait."

  "But you can guess----"

  "I can guess nothing," interrupted the girl imperiously. "If you and Iare to rem
ain friends you must cease talking on that subject."

  "I'll do anything to remain friends with you, Miss Paynton," was thesignificant reply.

  "Then talk of anything save that terrible case. Oh, how I wish I hadleft it alone!"

  "I'm glad you did not," said Claude bluntly. "If it had not been forthat book----"

  Before he could finish the sentence Jenny shot an indignant look at him,and deliberately rising from her seat crossed the room to where FrankLinton was frowning and tugging at his mustache. Claude was vexed at hisfolly in thus drawing down her anger on him, but accepted his beatinglike a man, and passed over to where Mrs. Hilliston waited with anexpectant face. She remarked on his tardy coming with some bitterness.

  "I see you prefer a younger face to mine," she said, drawing herself up."Time was when I had no rival to fear."

  "Dear Mrs. Hilliston, I could not disobey a lady. Besides--besides----"

  "Besides you are in love with her. Oh, I can see that! Well, she is apretty girl. So you intend to marry her?"

  "It is early yet to talk of marriage. I don't even know if she likesme."

  Mrs. Hilliston laughed, and looked at him smilingly. "Then you must bevery ignorant of the way of women, my dear," she said meaningly. "A wordin your ear, Claude. That girl loves you."

  "In two weeks! Impossible!"

  "I've known love to grow in two days," replied Mrs. Hilliston dryly."Oh, yes, she loves you, and you love her, so you can marry as soon asyou choose."

  "First I must get Mr. Paynton's consent."

  "I should not think that would be difficult," said the lady, looking athis eager face. "You are young, not ill-looking, not badly off, and so Ishould not think Mr. Paynton would desire anything better for hisdaughter. So much for the first obstacle, and the second?"

  "I must solve the mystery of my father's death."

  Mrs. Hilliston's manner changed on the instant, and from being gay shebecame severe and anxious-looking. Indeed, Claude thought that she paledunder her rouge; but this might have been fancy.

  "It is about that I wish to speak to you," she said hurriedly. "I wantyou to stop investigating this case. You will learn nothing; it would beof no use to anyone if you did solve the mystery. Stop troublingyourself with slander, Claude."

  "Why?" he asked, astonished at her earnest tone.

  "Because your conduct vexes my husband. He has been a father to you inthe place of the one you lost, so you ought to consider him a little.Pray leave that mystery unsolved."

  "If I would, Tait would not. He is now even more eager than I to findout the truth."

  "Horrid little man!" said the lady viciously. "Where is he now?"

  The time had now come to try the effect of Tait's destination, andfixing his eyes on Mrs. Hilliston as she slowly fanned herself, Claudeuttered the fatal words.

  "He is at Horriston."

  The fan stopped, Mrs. Hilliston paled, but, preserving her self-controlwith a strong effort, replied quietly:

  "At Horriston. And why?"

  "To find out a person not mentioned in the case."

  "Man or woman?" asked Mrs. Hilliston in a low voice.

  "Woman."

  She said no more, but turned away her head to reply to her husband, whocame up opportunely. He also had heard the last few words of theconversation, and, ignoring the presence of Claude, husband and wifelooked at one another with pale faces.

  The shot had struck home, and Larcher saw that it had.