by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER XXVII
TELL ME THE TRUTH, LESLIE.
"This is a wonderful thing for me," said Annie as she stood up. Leslieturned and looked at her without replying. "I mean that my fourteenshillings can now last me nearly another week. By that time, if I getthis situation, I shall have saved money and be quite independent.Leslie, you cannot imagine what a load will be lifted from my mind, andyou will have done it. I shall thank you to the longest day I live."
"But I don't want to do it," said Leslie; "you don't know how dreadful Ifeel. Pray, don't say any more to me. I am not good now, not at all. Iwant to be away by myself, to fight this thing out to the bitter end.But here we are. I'll do my best for you, Annie, only for Heaven's sakedon't thank me."
The girls found themselves now in Queen Victoria Street. They reachedthe house where Mr. Parker's offices were, went upstairs to the secondfloor, and presently entered a room where several clerks were busy.
"You must take the initiative now," said Annie, touching Leslie on thearm. "They know me, for I have been here often; but they do not knowyou. Go up to one of the clerks and say that you wish to see Mr.Parker."
Again Leslie found herself hesitating, but then she quickly made up hermind. She must go on with what she meant to do at any cost.
She crossed the room, therefore, quickly, and stood before a desk wherean elderly man with gray hair was writing.
"I have come to see Mr. Parker," said Leslie; "is he in?"
"Mr. Parker is in, miss," was the reply; "but he is specially engaged."
"Is he likely to be disengaged soon?" asked Leslie.
"Within half an hour perhaps. He is interviewing some young ladies fora----"
"Oh, I know," said Annie, who had followed Leslie across the room. "Bequick, Leslie, quick."
"I want to see Mr. Parker on that very subject," replied Leslie.
"What, miss," said the clerk, "are you one of the candidates?"
"No, not exactly; but, all the same, I have come on that very business.If you will give me a sheet of paper I will write a note."
The man handed her one, and she scribbled a few words:
"Leslie Gilroy wants to see you at once. Please don't engage a secretaryfinally until you have heard what I want to say."
She folded up the paper and handed it to the clerk.
"Will you take that to Mr. Parker now?" she said. "He will look at iteven while he is talking with another person."
"Oh, how good you are!" whispered Annie in her ear.
Another clerk motioned to the girls to seat themselves on a bench notfar from the door. The elderly clerk with the gray hair went into a roomat the opposite side. He was absent for a couple of minutes. When hereturned he went straight up to Leslie.
"Mr. Parker will see you in five minutes," he said. "Will you come thisway?"
"May I come too?" asked Annie.
Leslie looked at the clerk.
"Certainly, miss, bring your friend." He spoke in a respectful tone, andushered the girls into a small and comfortably furnished apartment.Having supplied them with a newspaper each, he left them.
"This suspense is almost intolerable," said Annie. "You promise, Leslie,that you will plead very, very hard."
"I will do my best," answered Leslie.
"But I know you are hating it," said poor Annie. "I see it in yourface."
"Don't talk to me about that, Annie. I have made up my mind; but Icannot, cannot talk it over with you."
Just then the door was opened, and Mr. Parker himself came in. Heglanced at Annie in some annoyance and surprise, and gave Leslie thatcold, level glance which had almost broken her heart on the day of thepicnic.
"I understand that you want to speak to me?" he said.
Leslie rose.
"I do," she said. "Can I see you by yourself?"
"You can, if you have come on a very urgent matter; but, as a rule, Inever see anyone here except on business."
"This is truly a matter of business."
"Has Miss Colchester anything to do with it?"
"Yes."
"Then I had better see you alone. Come this way."
He took no further notice of Annie, but ushered Leslie into the nextroom. Closing the door, he asked her to seat herself.
"Now, what is it?" he said.
"I can scarcely tell you how painful it is to me to come to you to-day,"began Leslie.
"Then why do you do it?" said Mr. Parker.
"Because I want to ask you for a favor."
"Ah, to lend you another sixty pounds?"
Leslie's face turned very white.
"Do you know that you, my father's old friend, are cruel," she said.
"I don't think so. On the contrary, I consider that I am mostforbearing. A girl who can go into debt once, and conceal it from herfriends, and send another girl----"
"Mr. Parker, you break my heart."
"Again I repeat I am sorry, but I must have my say. I cannot grant yourrequest, whatever it is, except in my own fashion. Now, speak up, and bequick. Being Leslie Gilroy, of course I cannot refuse you anything inreason."
"You are doing much for me. I know it is for my mother's sake and myfather's sake."
"That's about it."
"And never, never more for my sake?"
"My feelings have changed toward you. The more I think over that blackbusiness the less I like it. I cannot pretend to be other than I am."
"Well, I have not come here to plead for myself to-day," replied Leslie."I want to help Annie Colchester. She is very poor, nearly starving; shehas heard that you want a secretary."
Mr. Parker raised his brows, and an ominous exclamation dropped from hislips.
"You must hear me out," continued Leslie. "She knows also that you donot like her brother."
"Scoundrel!" muttered the merchant between his teeth.
"But she is not to be held accountable for her brother's sins."
"Did I ever say she was?"
"No; but you act somehow as if you did. Oh, I am not going to be afraidof you, Mr. Parker. I will speak out. A brother may be wicked and asister good and virtuous----"
"You think her good and virtuous?" interrupted the merchant.
Leslie hastily proceeded, as if she had not heard this remark.
"I want you to make Annie your secretary," she said. "She feels surethat you would refuse her own request, and she has asked me to pleadwith you. I do plead most earnestly. I plead because I am my father'sdaughter, and because once you were fond of me and good to me. Annie isa very clever girl; she knows many foreign languages, she has a greatdeal of shrewdness in her character, and would do your work admirably. Iwant you to let her do it."
"And you intend to be responsible for her character?"
"Her character? Oh!" said Leslie. She trembled and colored.
Mr. Parker fixed her with his keen twinkling eyes. He seemed to bedragging the truth out of her soul. If he knew even for one moment howAnnie had got that money, if he knew about the forged letter, would hegive her the post?
"And you are, personally, very desirous about this?" said Mr. Parker.
"I am indeed. Under the circumstances, it is bitterly hard for me tohave to plead with you; for my whole heart aches, yes--whether you willbelieve it or not--at the cruel change in our positions. You, to whom Iowe so much, think badly of me. But I have risen to this great effort onAnnie's behalf. Don't let me have to humble myself in vain."
"Would there have been anything so humiliating in your asking a favor ofyour father's greatest friend?" said Mr. Parker, a kinder note cominginto his voice.
"It would not have been humiliating at all; but, under the changedcircumstances, it is."
"Aye; they have changed, truly. But because of your father and our oldfriendship, I will do what you wish, Leslie Gilroy; but on a condition."
"Oh, I will promise anything, I am so grateful to you."
"Stop a moment, young lady; wait until you have heard what my conditionis. I will do what yo
u wish--I will give your friend that post--if youwill tell me the truth with regard to that sixty pounds."
Leslie turned from white to red.
"I thought----" she began.
"No, young lady; no," said Mr. Parker. "I can read character wellenough, and you have never told me the truth with regard to that money.There is something concealed at the back of it. The more I think themore assured I am, and your face tells me so plainly at the presentmoment. When I know the simple truth, Leslie Gilroy, I will restore youinto my full favor again, and your friend shall be my privatesecretary."
"Then there is nothing more to be said," replied poor Leslie, tremblingfrom head to foot. "I cannot tell you more than you know already."
"What I know already is not the truth. Go, child; tell your friend thatyou have failed, and that the fault is yours."
Leslie walked across the room. Mr. Parker preceded her and flung openthe door. He followed Leslie into Annie's presence. He stood and facedAnnie Colchester.
"I understand," he said, bringing out his words coldly, "that you haveasked Leslie Gilroy to come here and plead for you. You want to be mysecretary?"
"I could do the work well," said Annie, standing up and speaking withglistening eyes.
"Your brother also assured me that he could do my work well. He hadbrains enough, but nothing else, the scoundrel!"
Annie bit her lips until the blood nearly came. She made a valianteffort not to speak; but to hear Rupert abused was like dragging herthrough fire.
"Now, listen to me." said Parker. "I have spoken to Leslie Gilroy; Ihave told her that I will grant her request when she tells me the wholetruth about that sixty pounds which you took from me to her. It is trueI have her letter; but it was not only her letter, it was your pleadingwhich induced me to give it. Since that hour I have felt certain thatsomething is hidden. When Leslie tells me the exact truth, you, AnnieColchester shall have the place. You had better go away, both of yougirls, and consult--there is something at the back of this. I will keepthe post open for forty-eight hours, but no longer. Now go; you have mydecision."