The Cryptogram: A Story of Northwest Canada
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CHAPTER XLVI.
THE ALARM.
That sleepless night--I shudder as I recall it. For hours I tossed onthe bed, rent by conflicting emotions, ashamed one minute of my ignoblethoughts, plunged the next into a black abyss of doubt. At the firstflush of wintry dawn I dozed off into slumber; the sun was shining whenI awoke, and the moonlight encounter seemed more a dream than a reality.
As I dressed I considered the matter as calmly as possible, and I madetwo resolves--that I would hold fast to my faith in Flora, and wouldpatiently wait her own time for explaining the mystery. But the demon ofmistrust still lurked within me; I was as miserable as only a jealouslover can be, and I dreaded unspeakably the ordeal of hiding myfeelings through the day.
What a memorable day it was to be! Its every incident is etched on thecurtain of the past with sharp and unfaded lines. The beginning wascommonplace enough. I was too late for breakfast, and I sat quite aloneover my coffee and fried fish. Flora I did not see. I exchanged a fewwords with Captain Rudstone and Christopher Burley and then went off tothe clerks' quarters, where I assisted with the work until dinner time.
At that meal I was forced to pretend to be in good spirits, and I foundit a hard task. Captain Rudstone, whose identity was known to but thefour of us, told a laughable story of one of his experiences in theStates. But I observed, to my discomfiture, that he kept a close watchon Flora. She sat opposite to me, joining in the conversation with aring of merriment that I detected as false, and as much as possible sheavoided meeting my eyes.
After dinner she left the room with Mrs. Macdonald, but first she foundan opportunity to slip a scrap of paper into my hand.
I walked to the window and opened it, and the few words that itcontained made my heart beat rapidly:
"If you love me, Denzil, trust me. All will, come right in the end."
As I thrust the paper into my pocket, feeling both comforted and puzzledby the message, the factor called me.
"I am going to the settlement," he said, "on a matter of business. Doyou care to ride along with me, Carew?"
Any occupation promised to be a relief, and I gladly accepted theinvitation. Half an hour later we were off, mounted on good horses. Theobject of our visit was to examine several secret agents--spies, tospeak plainly--who had come in with reports concerning the NorthwestCompany. For obvious reasons, Macdonald did not wish them to be seenentering the fort.
It proved to be a lengthy business, and we were detained all afternoonand part of the evening. As to what we learned, that may be dismissed ina few words: but the news was more satisfactory than it had been for along time. The half-breeds were comparatively quiet, presumably becauseof a warning hint from headquarters. And the truculent officials of therival company had taken no steps to call our people to account for theattack on Lagarde's store, nor did they appear to have any intention ofdemanding the person of Captain Rudstone. Doubtless they thought it bestto let sleeping dogs lie. Of course this altered situation caused thefactor and myself no little relief.
We had supper at the settlement, and rode back by moonlight. We put ourhorses away, and entered the house. It was then half-past ten o'clock,and we found Christopher Burley in solitary possession of the sittingroom, hugging the stove closely and reading an old newspaper. Every oneelse, he informed us, had turned in for the night, Captain Rudstonehaving left only a few minutes before.
"I'm not sleepy," Macdonald said to me. "Are you?"
"Not a bit," I replied. "Then we'll have a sociable hour, Carew. I'mjust in the humor for it."
He took tobacco and whisky from a closet, and after filling our glassesand lighting our pipes, we joined the law clerk round the stove.
"It has been a tiresome afternoon," the factor said finally, "but theprospect looks bright--very bright. You will be glad to hear, Mr.Burley, that his lordship--ahem! I mean your client--need not remain atFort Garry any longer than he wishes. At least that is my opinion."
"I am indeed relieved, sir," the law clerk replied. "I feared gravecomplications. I admit that I am anxious--if I may say so withoutputting any slight upon your gracious hospitality--to start for Englandas soon as possible. There is much to be done--many legal matters to beattended to--and it is important that the new Earl of Heathermere shouldlose no time in claiming his title and property."
"Lucky fellow!" said Macdonald. "And in what a cool, matter-of-fact wayhe takes his good fortune!"
"He is a man of the world--that accounts for it," said I.
"It is purely a matter of breeding," Christopher Burley replied stiffly."Blood tells always. His lordship is a worthy descendant of an ancientfamily."
"Then you won't admit that I, or Carew here, would be as well fitted tofill the position?" Macdonald asked laughingly.
What reply the law clerk would have made will never be known, for justthen from the upper part of the house rang a woman's shrill scream.
"My God, that is Flora's voice!" I cried.
"Come with me, gentlemen!" shouted the factor.
He led the way, with Burley and I at his heels. In a trice we wereupstairs, and dashing along the hall.
"Help--help! Be quick!"
The summons guided us straight to Captain Rudstone's room, from the opendoor of which streamed a yellow light. I was the first to pass thethreshold, and I shall never forget the sight that greeted me--Floraholding a twisted paper in one hand and with the other pointing a pistolat Captain Rudstone, who stood six feet from her, with his back to aglowing stove; his face was very white, but his bearing was defiant.
"Seize him!" Flora cried, when she saw us.
Macdonald and Burley grabbed the captain, who did not resist. I caughthold of Flora, and she thrust the paper into my hand.
"Take it, Denzil," she said faintly. "I saved it--"