by Fergus Hume
“And there is an immense hole in the ground where The Grange stood,” said Lillian with awe, “Mr. Laurance told me, and Mildred also.”
“I daresay that hole will form the basis of a legend in years to come,” was Dan’s reply, “and a very picturesque story can be made out of the material supplied by that infernal woman. She was as wicked and cruel and callous as that Ezzelin who played dice with the arch-fiend. By the way, Lillian, I suppose Mildred Vincent was very much cut up over the death of her uncle?”
“No, she was not. Of course she regretted his awful end, and that he should have been so wicked, but he was never kind to her and she had not much love for him. I don’t know,” ended Miss Moon, reflectively, “if we can be sure that he ever committed a crime.”
“Yes, he did,” declared Halliday, quickly, “every single member of that society had to commit a crime in order to belong to the gang. Vincent, I truly believe, was not a bad man, as his sole idea was a craze for inventing aeroplanes. But Queen Beelzebub, wanting him for her purpose, no doubt inveigled him into committing himself as a criminal, as she inveigled Mrs. Jarsell and Curberry.”
“Poor Lord Curberry,” sighed Lillian, “he is more to be pitied than blamed. I don’t think the young man who holds the title now cared that he died.”
“Can you expect him to?” asked Dan, sceptically, “seeing he has got a title and a lot of money. In a clean way too, for Curberry consented to the murder of two relatives so as to secure what he wanted. No, Lillian, it is your kind heart that makes you pity Curberry, but he was not a good man. No decent fellow would have belonged to that association of demons. But I think we have discussed the subject threadbare. Let us talk of more pleasant matters.”
“About Mr. Laurance and his marriage?” cried Lillian, gaily.
“Well, yes, although being selfishly in love, I would much rather discuss our own. Freddy will be able to marry Mildred now since you have given him enough money to start a newspaper. It is very good of you.”
“I don’t think so,” said Miss Moon, as they began to climb the steps again, and return to the house. “Mr. Laurance helped you to learn who killed my dear father and deserved a reward as you did. I gave him money and—”
“And you give me yourself, so I have been rewarded, very richly. Well, Freddy will make a very good proprietor and editor of a newspaper, and Mildred can help him to make it a success. All’s well that ends well.”
“And you are quite—quite happy, dear?”
“Quite, quite. Only, I fear,” Dan sighed, “that some people will call me a fortune hunter, seeing that I, without a penny, am marrying a rich woman.”
Lillian stopped in the path up to the house, and took hold of the lapels of Dan’s coat to shake him. “How can you talk such nonsense!” she said reproachfully; “why, after your portrait and an account of all you have done appearing in the papers, you could have married half a dozen women.”
“But none so sweet as you, dear,” said Halliday, kissing her, for her lips were temptingly near his own; “well, I must not despise my good fortune. But what can I give you in return, Miss Croesus?”
“A promise,” said Lillian, earnestly, “that you will not go up any more in those horrid flying machines. I shall always be afraid of losing you if you do; you know that quite well.”
“Let me take a tiny little flight occasionally,” coaxed Dan, gaily.
“Well, yes, on condition that you take me. If there is an accident, we can be smashed up together. Don’t argue,” she placed her hand on his mouth, “that is the only way in which I shall agree to your flying.”
“Wilful woman will do what she wants,” said Halliday, resignedly, and tucked Lillian’s arm beneath his own; “hallo, there is Sir John and Mrs. Bolstreath on the terrace. They seem to be very happy together.”
“So happy,” whispered Lillian in his ear, “that I believe—” she pursed up her lips and looked unutterable things.
“Well,” said Dan, laughing, “it would not be at all a bad thing for Sir John to make Mrs. Bolstreath Lady Moon. She can nurse him and amuse him and bury him in due course. What a heap of marriages—you and I; Freddy and Mildred; Sir John and Mrs. Bolstreath. See, she’s waving her hand to us. Let us go inside, as it’s growing a trifle chilly.”
“Hark!” said Lillian, raising her finger, and Dan listened to hear the wild delicious strain of a nightingale singing from a distant thicket.
“It sings of my love for you,” he whispered, “and of your love for me. What other than such a song can express our feelings, darling?”
“This,” said Lillian, and kissed him fondly.
“Clever girl!”
Table of Contents
Chapter I. A STRANGE VISITOR
Chapter II. A COMPLETE MYSTERY
Chapter III. DUTY BEFORE PLEASURE
Chapter IV. AN AMATEUR DETECTIVE
Chapter V. MUDDY WATER
Chapter VI. THE INVENTOR
Chapter VII. THE HERMIT LADIES
Chapter VIII. AVIATION
Chapter IX. MAHOMET’S COFFIN
Chapter X. ANOTHER MYSTERY
Chapter XI. ON THE TRAIL
Chapter XII. AN AMAZING ADVENTURE
Chapter XIII. A BOLD DETERMINATION
Chapter XIV. A BUSY AFTERNOON
Chapter XV. ABSOLUTE PROOF
Chapter XVI. DAN’S DIPLOMACY
Chapter XVII. AT BAY
Chapter XVIII. THE FLIGHT
Chapter XIX. TREACHERY
Chapter XX. QUEEN BEELZEBUB’S END
Chapter XXI. SUNSHINE