CHAPTER LXVIII.
"I NETTED the fish! what fish?"
"The man who forged the promissory note."
"Oh, Mr. Burt!"
"The same man that forged the newspaper extracts to deceive you forgedthe promissory note years ago, and the man who is setting spies on you isthe man who forged those extracts; so we are sure to nail him. He is inthe net; and very much to your credit. Leave the rest to me. I'll tellyou more about it to-morrow. You must order your carriage at one o'clocktomorrow and drive down to Scotland Yard; go into the Yard, and you willsee me; follow me without a word. When you go back, the other spies willbe so frightened they will go off to their employer, and so we shall nailhim."
Helen complied with these instructions strictly, and then returned home,leaving Mr. Burt to work. She had been home about half an hour, when theservant brought her up a message saying that a man wanted to speak toher. "Admit him," said Helen.
"He is dressed very poor, miss."
"Never mind; send him to me."
She was afraid to reject anybody now, lest she might turn her back oninformation.
A man presented himself in well-worn clothes, with a wash-leather faceand close-shaven chin; a little of his forehead was also shaven.
"Madam, my name is Hand." Helen started. "I have already had the honor ofwriting to you."
"Yes, sir," said Helen, eying him with fear and aversion.
"Madam, I am come"--(he hesitated)--"I am an unfortunate man. Weigheddown by remorse for a thoughtless act that has ruined an innocent man,and nearly cost my worthy employer his life, I come to expiate as far asin me lies. But let me be brief and hurry over the tale of shame. I was aclerk at Wardlaw's office. A bill-broker called Adams was talking to meand my fellow-clerks, and boasting that nobody could take him in with afeigned signature. Bets were laid; our vanity was irritated by hispretension. It was my fortune to overhear my young master and his friendRobert Penfold speak about a loan of two thousand pounds. In an evil hourI listened to the tempter and wrote a forged note for that amount. I tookit to Mr. Penfold; he presented it to Adams, and it was cashed. Iintended, of course, to call next day, and tell Mr. Penfold, and take himto Adams, and restore the money and get back the note. It was not due forthree months. Alas! that very day it fell under suspicion. Mr. Penfoldwas arrested. My young master was struck down with illness at hisfriend's guilt, though he never could be quite got to believe it; andI--miserable coward!--dared not tell the truth. Ever since that day Ihave been a miserable man. The other day I came into money, and leftWardlaw's service. But I carry my remorse with me. Madam, I am come totell the truth. I dare not tell it to Mr. Wardlaw; I think he would killme. But I will tell it to you, and you can tell it to him; ay, tell it toall the world. Let my shame be as public as his whom I have injured sodeeply, but, Heaven knows, unintentionally. I--I--I--"
Mr. Hand sank all in a heap where he sat, and could say no more.
Helen's flesh crawled at this confession, and at the sight of thisreptile who owned that he had destroyed Robert Penfold in fear andcowardice. For a long time her wrath so overpowered all sense of pitythat she sat trembling; and, if eyes could kill, Mr. Hand would not haveoutlived his confession.
At last she contrived to speak. She turned her head away not to see thewretch and said, sternly:
"Are you prepared to make this statement on paper, if called on?"
Mr. Hand hesitated, but said, "Yes."
"Then write down that Robert Penfold was innocent, and you are ready toprove it whenever you may be called upon."
"Write that down?" said Hand.
"Unless your penitence is feigned, you will."
"Sooner than that should be added to my crime I will avow all." He wrotethe few lines she required.
"Now your address, that I may know where to find you at a moment'snotice." He wrote, "J. Hand, 11 Warwick Street, Pimlico."
Helen then dismissed him, and wept bitterly. In that condition she wasfound by Arthur Wardlaw, who comforted her, and, on hearing her report ofHand's confession, burst out into triumph, and reminded her he had alwayssaid Robert Penfold was innocent. "My father," said he, "must yield tothis evidence, and we will lay it before the Secretary of State and gethis pardon."
"His pardon! when he is innocent!"
"Oh, that is the form--the only form. The rest must be done by the warmreception of his friends. I, for one, who all these years have maintainedhis innocence, will be the first to welcome him to my house an honoredguest. What am I saying? Can I? dare I? ought I? when my wife-- Ah! I ammore to be pitied than my poor friend is; my friend, my rival. Well, Ileave it to you whether he can come into your husband's house."
"Never."
"But, at least, I can send the _Springbok_ out, and bring him home; andthat I will do without one day's delay."
"Oh, Arthur!" cried Helen, "you set me an example of unselfishness."
"I do what I can," said Arthur. "I am no saint. I hope for a reward."
Helen sighed. "What shall I do?"
"Have pity on _me!_ your faithful lover, and to whom your faith wasplighted before ever you saw or knew my unhappy friend. What can I do orsuffer more than I have done and suffered for you? My sweet Helen, havepity on me, and be my wife."
"I will, some day."
"Bless you. Bless you. One effort more. What day?"
"I can't. I can't. My heart is dead."
"This day fortnight. Let me speak to your father. Let him name the day."
As she made no reply, he kissed her hand devotedly, and did speak to herfather. Sir Edward, meaning all for the best, said, "This day fortnight."
CHAPTER LXIX.
THE next morning came the first wedding presents from the jubilantbridegroom, who was determined to advance step by step, and give nobreathing time. When Helen saw them laid out by her maid, she trembled atthe consequences of not giving a plump negative to so brisk a wooer.
The second post brought two letters; one of them from Mrs. Undercliff.The other contained no words, but only a pearl of uncommon size, andpear-shaped. Helen received this at first as another wedding present, andan attempt on Arthur's part to give her a pearl as large as those she hadgathered on her dear island. But, looking narrowly at the address, shesaw it was not written by Arthur; and, presently, she was struck by thelikeness of this pearl in shape to some of her own. She got out herpearls, laid them side by side, and began to be moved exceedingly. Shehad one of her instincts, and it set every fiber quivering withexcitement. It was some time before she could take her eyes off thepearls, and it was with a trembling hand she opened Mrs. Undercliff'sletter. That missive was not calculated to calm her. It ran thus:
"MY DEAR YOUNG LADY--A person called here last night and supplied theclew. If you have the courage to know the truth, you have only to comehere, and to bring your diary, and all the letters you have received fromany person or persons since you landed in England. I am yours obediently,
JANE UNDERCLIFF."
The courage to know the truth!
This mysterious sentence affected Helen considerably. But her faith inRobert was too great to be shaken. She would not wait for the canonicalhour at which young ladies go out, but put on her bonnet directly afterbreakfast. Early as she was, a visitor came before she could start--Mr.Burt, the detective. She received him in the library.
Mr. Burt looked at her dress and her little bag, and said, "I'm very gladI made bold to call so early."
"You have got information of importance to communicate to me?"
"I think so, miss;" and he took out his note-book. "The person you arewatched by is Mr. Arthur Wardlaw." The girl stared at him. "Both spiesreport to him twice a day at his house in Russell Square."
"Be careful, Mr. Burt; this is a serious thing to say, and may haveserious consequences."
"Well, miss, you told me you wanted to know the truth."
"Of course I want to know the truth."
"Then the truth is that you are watched by order of Mr. Wardlaw."
<
br /> Burt continued his report.
"A shabby-like man called on you yesterday."
"Yes; it was Mr. Hand, Mr. Wardlaw's clerk. And, oh, Mr. Burt, thatwretched creature came and confessed the truth. It was he who forged thenote, out of sport, and for a bet, and then was too cowardly to own it."She then detailed Hand's confession.
"His penitence comes too late," said she, with a deep sigh.
"It hasn't come yet," said Burt, dryly. "Of course my lambs followed theman. He went first to his employer, and then he went home. His name isnot Hand. He is not a clerk at all, but a little actor at the CorinthianSaloon. Hand is in America; went three months ago. I ascertained thatfrom another quarter."
"Oh, goodness!" cried Helen, "what a wretched world! I can't see my way ayard for stories."
"How should you, miss? It is clear enough, for all that. Mr. Wardlawhired this actor to pass for Hand, and tell you a lie that he thoughtwould please you."
Helen put her hand to her brow, and thought; but her candid soul gotsadly in the way of her brain. "Mr. Burt," said she, "will you go with meto Mr. Undercliff, the expert?"
"With pleasure, ma'am; but let me finish my report. Last night there wassomething new. Your house was watched by six persons. Two were Wardlaw's,three were Burt's; but the odd man was there on his own hook; and my mencould not make him out at all; but they think one of Wardlaw's men knewhim; for he went off to Russell Square like the wind and brought Mr.Wardlaw here in disguise. Now, miss, that is all; and shall I call a cab,and we'll hear Undercliff's tale?"
The cab was called, and they went to Undercliff. On the way Helenbrooded; but the detective eyed every man and everything on the road withthe utmost keenness.
Edward Undercliff was at work at lithographing. He received Helencordially, nodded to Burt, and said she could not have a betterassistant.
He then laid his fac-simile of the forged note on the table, with JohnWardlaw's genuine writing and Penfold's indorsement. "Look at that, Mr.Burt."
Burt inspected the papers keenly.
"You know, Burt, I swore at Robert Penfold's trial that he never wrotethat forged note."
"I remember," said Burt.
"The other day this lady instructed me to discover, if I could, who didwrite the forged note. But, unfortunately, the materials she gave me werenot sufficient. But, last night, a young man dropped from the clouds,that I made sure was an agent of yours, Miss Rolleston. Under thatimpression I was rather unguarded, and I let him know how far we had got,and could get no further. 'I think I can help you,' says this young man,and puts a letter on the table. Well, Mr. Burt, a glance at that letterwas enough for me. It was written by the man who forged the note."
"A letter!" said Helen.
"Yes. I'll put the letter by the side of the forged note; and, if youhave any eye for writing at all, you'll see at once that one hand wrotethe forged note and this letter. I am also prepared to swear that theletters signed Hand are forgeries by the same person." He then coolly putupon the table the letter from Arthur Wardlaw that Helen had received onboard the _Proserpine,_ and was proceeding to point out the many pointsof resemblance between the letter and the document, when he wasinterrupted by a scream from Helen.
"Ah!" she cried, "he is here. Only one man in the world could havebrought that letter. I left it on the island. Robert is here. He gave youthat letter."
"You are right," said the expert, "and what a fool I must be! I have noeye except for handwriting. He had a beard; and such a beard!"
"It is Robert!" cried Helen, in raptures. "He is come just in time."
"In time to be arrested," said Burt. "Why, his time is not out. He'll getinto trouble again."
"Oh, Heaven forbid!" cried Helen, and turned so faint she had to be laidback on a chair, and salts applied to her nostrils.
She soon came to, and cried and trembled, but prepared to defend herRobert with all a woman's wit. Burt and Undercliff were conversing in alow voice, and Burt was saying he felt sure Wardlaw's spies had detectedRobert Penfold, and that Robert would be arrested and put into prison asa runaway convict. "Go to Scotland Yard this minute, Mr. Burt," saidHelen, eagerly.
"What for?"
"Why, you must take the commission to arrest him. You are our friend."
Burt slapped his thigh with delight.
"That is first-rate, miss," said he. "I'll take the real felon, first,you may depend. Now, Mr. Undercliff, write your report, and hand it toMiss Helen with fac-similes. It will do no harm if you make a declarationto the same effect before a magistrate. You, Miss Rolleston, keepyourself disengaged, and please don't go out. You will very likely hearfrom me again to-day."
He drove off, and Helen, though still greatly agitated by Robert's dangerand the sense of his presence, now sat down, trembling a little, andcompared Arthur's letter with the forged document. The effect of thiscomparison was irresistible. The expert, however, asked her for someletter of Arthur's that had never passed through Robert Penfold's hands.She gave him the short note in which he used the very words, RobertPenfold. He said he would make that note the basis of his report.
While he was writing it, Mrs. Undercliff came in, and Helen told her all.She said, "I came to the same conclusion long ago; but when you said hewas to be your husband--"
"Ah," said Helen, "we women are poor creatures; we can always find somereason for running away from the truth. Now explain about theprayer-book."
"Well, miss, I felt sure he would steal it, so I made Ned produce afac-simile. And he did steal it. What you got back was your mother'sprayer-book. Of course I took care of that."
"Oh, Mrs. Undercliff," cried Helen, "do let me kiss you."
Then they had a nice little cry together, and, by the time they had done,the report was ready in duplicate.
"I'll declare this before a magistrate," said the expert, "and then I'llsend it you."
At four o'clock of this eventful day, Helen got a message from Burt tosay that he had orders to arrest Robert Penfold, and that she must wear amask, and ask Mr. Wardlaw to meet her at old Mr. Penfold's at nineo'clock. But she herself must be there at half-past eight, without fail,and bring Undercliff's declaration and report with her, and theprayer-book, etc.
Accordingly Helen went down to old Mr. Penfold's at half-past eight andwas received by Nancy Rouse, and ushered into Mr. Penfold's room; that isto say, Nancy held the door open, and, on her entering the room, shut itsharply and ran down stairs.
Helen entered the room; a man rose directly, and came to her; but it wasnot Michael Penfold--it was Robert. A faint scream, a heavenly sigh, andher head was on his shoulder, and her arm round his neck, and both theirhearts panting as they gazed, and then clung to each other, and thengazed again with love unutterable. After a while they got sufficientcomposure to sit down hand in hand and compare notes. And Helen showedhim their weapons of defense, the prayer-book, the expert's report, etc.
A discreet tap was heard at the door. It was Nancy Rouse. On beinginvited to enter, she came in and said, "Oh, Miss Helen, I've got apenitent outside, which he done it for love of me, and now he'll make aclean breast, and the fault was partly mine. Come in, Joe, and speak foryourself."
On this, Joe Wylie came in, hanging his head, piteously.
"She is right, sir," said he; "I'm come to ask your pardon and thelady's. Not as I ever meant you any harm; but to destroy the ship, it wasa bad act, and I've never throve since. Nance, she have got the money.I'll give it back to the underwriters; and, if you and the lady willforgive a poor fellow that was tempted with love and money, why, I'llstand to the truth for you, though it's a bitter pill."
"I forgive you," said Robert; "and I accept your offer to serve me."
"And so do I," said Helen. "Indeed, it is not us you have wronged. Butoh, I _am_ glad, for Nancy's sake, that you repent."
"Miss, I'll go through fire and water for you," said Wylie, lifting uphis head.
Here old Michael came in to say that Arthur Wardlaw was at the door, witha policeman.
<
br /> "Show him in," said Robert.
"Oh, no, Robert!" said Helen. "He fills me with horror."
"Show him in," said Robert, gently. "Sit down, all of you."
Now Burt had not told Arthur who was in the house, so he came, ratheruneasy in his mind, but still expecting only to see Helen.
Robert Penfold told Helen to face the door, and the rest to sit back; andthis arrangement had not been effected one second, when Arthur came in,with a lover's look, and, taking two steps into the room, saw the threemen waiting to receive him. At sight of Penfold, he started and turnedpale as ashes; but, recovering himself, said: "My dearest Helen, this isindeed an unexpected pleasure. You will reconcile me to one whose worthand innocence I never doubted, and tell him I have had some little handin clearing him."
His effrontery was received in dead silence. This struck cold to hisbones, and, being naturally weak, he got violent. He said, "Allow me tosend a message to my servant."
He then tore a leaf out of his memorandum-book, wrote on it: "RobertPenfold is here; arrest him directly, and take him away"; and, inclosingthis in an envelope, sent it out to Burt by Nancy.
Helen seated herself quietly, and said, "Mr. Wardlaw, when did Mr. Handgo to America?"
Arthur stammered out, "I don't know the exact date."
"Two or three months ago?"
"Yes."
"Then the person you sent to me to tell me that falsehood was not Mr.Hand?"
"I sent nobody."
"Oh, for shame! for shame! Why have you set spies? Why did you make awaywith my prayer-book; or what you thought was my prayer-book? Here _is_ myprayer-book, that proves you had the _Proserpine_ destroyed; and I shouldhave lost my life but for another, whom you had done your best todestroy. Look Robert Penfold in the face, if you can."
Arthur's eyes began to waver. "I can," said he. "I never wronged him. Ialways lamented his misfortune."
"You were not the cause?"
"Never!--so help me Heaven!"
"Monster!" said Helen, turning away in contempt and horror.
"Oh, that is it--is it?" said Arthur, wildly. "You break faith with mefor _him?_ You insult me for _him?_ I must bear anything from you, for Ilove you; but, at least, I will sweep _him_ out of the path."
He ran to the door, opened it, and there was Burt, listening.
"Are you an officer?"
"Yes."
"Then arrest that man this moment: he is Robert Penfold, a convictreturned before his time."
Burt came into the room, locked the door and put the key in his pocket.
"Well, sir," said he to Robert Penfold, "I know you are a quick hitter.Don't let us have a row over it this time. If you have got anything tosay, say it quiet and comfortable."
"I will go with you on one condition," said Robert. "You must take thefelon as well as the martyr. This is the felon," and he laid his hand onArthur's shoulder, who cowered under the touch at first, but soon beganto act violent indignation.
"Take the ruffian away at once," he cried.
"What, before I hear what he has got to say?"
"Would you listen to him against a merchant of the city of London, a manof unblemished reputation?"
"Well, sir, you see we have got a hint that you were concerned inscuttling a ship; and that is a felony. So I think I'll just hear what hehas got to say. You need not _fear_ any man's tongue if you areinnocent."
"Sit down, if you please, and examine these documents," said RobertPenfold. "As to the scuttling of the ship, here is the deposition of twoseamen, taken on their death-bed, and witnessed by Miss Rolleston andmyself."
"And that book he tried to steal," said Helen.
Robert continued: "And here is Undercliff's fac-simile of the forgednote. Here are specimens of Arthur Wardlaw's handwriting, and here isUndercliff's report."
The detective ran his eye hastily over the report, which we slightlycondense.
On comparing the forged note with genuine specimens of John Wardlaw'shandwriting, no less than twelve deviations from his habits of writingstrike the eye; and every one of these twelve deviations is a deviationinto a habit of Arthur Wardlaw, which is an amount of demonstrationrarely attained in cases of forgery.
1. THE CAPITAL L.--Compare in London (forged note) with the same letterin London in Wardlaw's letter.
2. THE CAPITAL D.--Compare this letter in "Date" with the same letter in"Dearest."
3. THE CAPITAL T.--Compare it in "Two" and "Tollemache."
4. The word "To"; see "To pay," in forged note and third line of letter.
5. Small "o" formed with a loop in the up-stroke.
6. The manner of finishing the letter "v."
7. Ditto the letter "w."
8. The imperfect formation of the small "a." This and the looped "o" runthrough the forged note and Arthur Wardlaw's letter, and are habitsentirely foreign to the style of John Wardlaw.
9. See the "th" in connection.
10. Ditto the "of" in connection.
11. The incautious use of the Greek e. John Wardlaw never uses this e.Arthur Wardlaw never uses any other, apparently. The writer of the forgednote began right, but, at the word Robert Penfold, glided insensibly intohis Greek e, and maintained it to the end of the forgery. This looks asif he was in the habit of writing those two words.
12. Compare the words "Robert Penfold" in the forged document with thesame words in the letter. The similarity is so striking that on these twowords alone the writer could be identified beyond a doubt.
13. Great pains were taken with the signature, and it is like JohnWardlaw's writing on the surface; but go below the surface, and it is allArthur Wardlaw.
The looped o, the small r, the l drooping below the d, the open a, areall Arthur Wardlaw's. The open loop of the final w is a still bolderdeviation into A. W. 's own hand. The final flourish is a curiousmistake. It is executed with skill and freedom; but the writer has madethe lower line the thick one. Yet John Wardlaw never does this.
How was the deviation caused? Examine the final flourish in ArthurWardlaw's signature. It contains one stroke only, but then that stroke isa thick one. He thought he had only to prolong his own stroke and bringit round. He did this extremely well, but missed the deepercharacteristic--the thick upper stroke. This is proof of a highcharacter: and altogether I am prepared to testify upon oath that thewriter of the letter to Miss Rolleston, who signs himself Arthur Wardlaw,is the person who forged the promissory note.
To these twelve proofs one more was now added. Arthur Wardlaw rose, and,with his knees knocking together, said, "Don't arrest him, Burt; let himgo."
"Don't let _him_ go," cried old Penfold. "A villain! I have got thenumber of the notes from Benson. I can prove he bribed this poor man todestroy the ship. Don't let him go. He has ruined my poor boy."
At this Arthur Wardlaw began to shriek for mercy. "Oh, Mr. Penfold," saidhe, "you are a father and hate me. But think of my father. I'll sayanything, do anything. I'll clear Robert Penfold at my own expense. Ihave lost _her._ She loathes me now. Have mercy on me, and let me leavethe country!"
He cringed and crawled so that he disarmed anger, and substitutedcontempt.
"Ay," said Burt. "He don't hit like you, Mr. Penfold; this is a chap thatought to have been in Newgate long ago. But take my advice; make himclear you on paper, and then let him go. I'll go downstairs awhile. Imustn't take part in compounding a felony."
"Oh, yes, Robert," said Helen "for his father's sake."
"Very well," said Robert. "Now, then, reptile, take the pen, and write inyour own hand, if you can."
He took the pen, and wrote to dictation--
"I, Arthur Wardlaw, confess that I forged the promissory note for 2,000pounds, and sent it to Robert Penfold, and that 1,400 pounds of it was tobe for my own use, and to pay my Oxford debts. And I confess that Ibribed Wylie to scuttle the ship _Proserpine_ in order to cheat theunderwriters."
Penfold then turned to Wylie, and asked him the true motive of thisfraud.
"W
hy, the gold was aboard the _Shannon,_" said Wylie; "I playedhanky-panky with the metals in White's store."
"Put that down," said Penfold. "Now go on."
"Make a clean breast," said Wylie. "I have. Say as how you cooked the_Proserpine's_ log, and forged Hiram Hudson's writing."
"And the newspaper extracts you sent me," said Helen, "and the lettersfrom Mr. Hand."
Arthur groaned. "Must I tell all that?" said he.
"Every word, or be indicted," said Robert Penfold, sternly.
He wrote it all down, and then sat staring stupidly. And the next thingwas, he gave a loud shriek, and fell on the floor in a fit. Theysprinkled water over him, and Burt conveyed him home in a cab, advisinghim to leave the country, but at the same time promising him not toexasperate those he had wronged so deeply, but rather to moderate them,if required. Then he gave Burt fifty guineas.
Robert Penfold, at Helen's request, went with her to Mr. Hennessy, andwith the proofs of Arthur's guilt and Robert's innocence; and heundertook that the matter should go in proper form before the Secretaryof State. But, somehow, it transpired that the _Proserpine_ had beenscuttled, and several of the underwriters wrote to the Wardlaws tothreaten proceedings. Wardlaw senior returned but one answer to thesegentlemen: "Bring your proofs to me at my place of business next Mondayat twelve, and let me judge the case, before you go elsewhere."
"That is high and mighty," said one or two; but they conferred, andagreed to these terms, so high stood the old merchant's name.
They came; they were received with stiff courtesy. The deposition ofCooper and Welch was produced, and Wylie, kept up to the mark by Nancy,told the truth and laid his two thousand pounds intact down on the table."Now that is off my stomach," said he, "and I'm a man again."
"Ay, and I'll marry you next week," said Nancy.
"Well, gentlemen," said old Wardlaw, "my course seems very clear. I willundo the whole transaction, and return you your money less the premiums,but plus five per cent. interest." And this he did on the spot, for thefirm was richer than ever.
When they were gone, Robert Penfold came in and said, "I hear, sir, youdevote this day to repairing the wrongs done by your firm: what can youdo for me?" He laid a copy of Arthur's confession before him. The old manwinced a moment where he sat, and the iron passed through his soul. Itwas a long time before he could speak. At last he said, "This wrong isirreparable, I fear."
Robert said nothing. Sore as his own heart was, he was not the one tostrike a grand old man, struggling so bravely against dishonor.
Wardlaw senior touched his handbell.
"Request Mr. Penfold to step this way."
Michael Penfold came.
"Gentlemen," said the old merchant, "the house of Wardlaw exists no more.It was built on honesty, and cannot survive a fraud. Wardlaw and Son werepartners at will. I had decided to dissolve that partnership, wind up theaccounts and put up the shutters. But now, if you like, I will value theeffects, and hand the business over to Penfold and Son on easy terms.Robert Penfold has been accused of forging John Wardlaw's name; to provethis was a calumny, I put Penfold over my door instead of Wardlaw. Thecity of London will understand that, gentlemen, believe me."
"Mr. Wardlaw," said Robert, "you are a just, a noble--" He could say nomore.
"Ah, sir," said Michael, "if the young gentleman had only been like you!"
"Mention his name no more to me. His crime and his punishment have killedme."
"Oh," said Robert, hastily, "he shall not be punished for your sake."
"Not be punished? It is not in your hands to decide. God has punishedhim. He is insane."
"Good Heavens!"
"Quite mad;--quite mad. Gentlemen, I can no longer support thisinterview. Send me your solicitor's address; the deeds shall be prepared.I wish the new firm success. Probity is the road to it. Good-day."
He wound up the affairs, had his name and Arthur's painted out at his ownexpense, and directed the painters to paint the Penfolds' in at theirs;went home to Elmtrees, and died in three days. He died lamented andhonored, and Robert Penfold was much affected. He got it into his headthat he had killed him with Arthur's confession, putting it before him sosuddenly. "I have forgotten who said 'Vengeance is mine,'" said RobertPenfold.
The merchant priest left the office to be conducted by his father; heused the credit of the new firm to purchase a living in the Vale of Kent;and thither he retired, grateful to Providence, but not easy in hisconscience. He now accused himself of having often distrusted God, andseen his fellow creatures in too dark a light. He turned toward religionand the care of souls.
Past suffering enlightens a man, and makes him tender; and people soonbegan to walk and drive considerable distances to hear the new vicar. Hehad a lake with a peninsula, the shape of which he altered, at a greatexpense, as soon as he came there. He wrote to Helen every day, and sheto him. Neither could do anything _con amore_ till the post came in.
One afternoon as he was preaching with great unction, he saw a longpuritanical face looking up at him with a droll expression of amazementand half-irony. The stranger called on him and began at once. "Wal,parson, you are a buster, you air. You ginn it us hot--_you_ did. I'mdarned if I ain't kinder ashamed to talk of this world's goods to a saintupon airth like you. But I never knowed a parson yet as couldn't collarthe dollars."
After this preamble he announced that he had got a lease of the islandfrom Chili, dug a lot of silver plate out of the galleon, sold ten tonsof choice coral, and a ship-load of cassia and cocoanuts. He had thendisposed of his lease to a Californian company for a large sum. And hispartner's share of net profits came to 17,247 pounds 13s. 3 1/2 d. whichsum he had paid to Michael, for Robert, Penfold in drafts on Baring, atthirty days after sight.
Robert shook his hand, and thanked him sincerely for his ability andprobity. He stayed that night at the Vicarage, and by that means fell inwith another acquaintance. General Rolleston and his daughter drove downto see the parsonage. Helen wanted to surprise Robert; and, as oftenhappens, she surprised herself. She made him show her everything; and sohe took her on to his peninsula. Lo! the edges of it had been cut andaltered, so that it presented a miniature copy of Godsend Island.
As soon as she saw this, Helen turned round with a sudden cry of love,"Oh, Robert!" and the lovers were in each other's arms. "What could anyother man ever be to me?"
"And what could any other woman ever be to me?"
They knew that before. But this miniature island made them speak out andsay it. The wedding-day was fixed before she left.
Her majesty pardoned this scholar, hero, and worthy, the crime he hadnever committed.
Nancy Rouse took the penitent Wylie without the 2,000 pounds. But oldPenfold, who knew the whole story, lent the money at three per cent; sothe Wylies pay a ground-rent of 60 pounds a year for a property which, byMrs. Wylie's industry and judgment, is worth at least 400 pounds. Shepays this very cheerfully, and appeals to Joe whether that is not betterthan the other way.
"Why, Joe," says she, "to a woman like me, that's a-foot all day, 'tisworth sixty pounds a year to be a good sleeper; and I shouldn't be thatif I had wronged my neighbor."
Arthur Wardlaw is in a private lunatic asylum, and is taken great careof. In his lucid intervals he suffers horrible distress of mind; but,though sad to see, these agonies furnish the one hope of his ultimaterecovery. When not troubled by these returns of reason, he is contentedenough. His favorite employment is to get Mr. Undercliff's fac-similes,and to write love-letters to Helen Rolleston which are duly deposited inthe post-office _of the establishment._ These letters are in thehandwriting of Charles I., Paoli, Lord Bacon, Alexander Pope, LordChesterfield, Nelson, Lord Shaftesbury, Addison, the late Duke ofWellington, and so on. And, strange to say, the Greek e never appears inany of them. They are admirably like, though the matter is not alwaysequally consistent with the characters of those personages.
Helen Rolleston married Robert Penfold. On the wedding-day, the presentswere laid out,
and among them there was a silver box incrusted withcoral. Female curiosity demanded that this box should be opened. Helenobjected, but her bridesmaids rebelled; the whole company sided withthem, and Robert smiled a careless assent. A blacksmith and carpenterwere both enlisted, and with infinite difficulty the poor box was rivenopen.
Inside was another box, locked, but with no key. That was opened withcomparative ease, and then handed to the bride. It contained nothing butPapal indulgences and rough stones, and fair throats were opened in somedisappointment. A lady, however, of more experience, examined thecontents, and said, that, in her opinion, many of them were uncut gems ofgreat price; there was certainly a quantity of jaspers and blood-stones,and others of no value at all. "But look at these two pearl-shapeddiamonds," said she; "why, they are a little fortune! and oh!" The stonethat struck this fair creature dumb was a rough ruby as big as ablackbird's egg, and of amazing depth and fire. "No lady in England,"said she, "has a ruby to compare with this."
The information proved correct. The box furnished Helen with diamonds andemeralds of great thickness and quality. But the huge ruby placed her ona level with sovereigns. She wears it now and then in London, but notoften. It attracts too much attention, blazing on her fair forehead likea star, and eclipses everything.
Well, what her ruby is among stones she is among wives. And he is worthyof her. Through much injustice, suffering, danger, and trouble, they havepassed to health, happiness, and peace, and that entire union of twonoble hearts, in loyal friendship and wedded love, which is the truestbliss this earth affords.
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