The Mynns' Mystery

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

  A LATE ARRIVAL.

  The same questions were asked day by day, on either side, when MrHampton returned to The Mynns from his daily visits to town.

  "Any news?"

  "No."

  "Any news?"

  "No."

  But, somehow, it was observed that Gertrude did not appear at alllow-spirited. In fact, as each day glided by she seemed to become morehopeful and buoyant. There was a new light in her eyes, and as MrsHampton watched she often caught sight of a pleasant, satisfied smileplaying about the girl's lips which had never appeared before.

  Every now and then her voice rang through the old house, as she sangsome ballad; but her happiest moments seemed to be those when she dailytook Bruno down the garden for his bask on the lawn, and a dreamy lookstole over the girl's face as she knelt down by the dog, and laid herhand on his damaged head just in the same way as she had seen otherhands laid one day, that seemed now long ago.

  She could kneel thus and dream happy day-dreams, again and again--dreamsof which she never tired, and all the time the sun shone down andglorified her luxuriant hair, gave beauty to her graceful form, and madethe dark yew hedge glisten as if frosted with silver, the velvet lawnseem of golden green, and the great, red brick wall, that lay betweenher and the road, glow and show up the neatly-trained trees.

  A new life seemed to have dawned for her, and the sunshine brightenedher darkened heart as she bent over and caressed the dog--liftingplayfully first one and then the other of his long, soft, hairy ears towhisper with girlish glee:

  "Yes, some day, Bruno--some day he will come again." Then she lookedround, almost with a guilty start, but only for the former restful lookof happiness to come back.

  "Such a change, ma'am; such a change. Poor darling! If that otherbusiness had gone on, it would have broken her poor, dear heart."

  "Yes, Denton," said Mrs Hampton, as she went on knitting. And then toherself: "Well, somehow, it's very pleasant to be down here in thequaint old place."

  "What does the doctor say about Mr Saul, ma'am?" asked Denton anothertime, for there was nothing she enjoyed better than respectfully askinga few questions, and leading the lady guest of the place into a longchat.

  "That he is very bad, Denton."

  "Poor young man! Do you think I ought to go and nurse him, ma'am?"

  "No, Denton," said the old lady so decidedly, that the housekeeperstarted, and looked at her wonderingly.

  Their further conversation was stopped by the sound of Gertrude's voicesinging as she came in from the garden, and the old housekeeper stoodwith her hands clasped, gazing towards the door.

  "Like a bird," she said softly--"like a bird. It does my old heart goodto hear her sing again. Its just like old times, ma'am; while lately,since poor, dear old master's death and those marriage troubles cameupon her, she has not been like the same."

  "She seems merry enough now, Denton."

  "Yes, ma'am," said the old woman, pausing at the door as she opened it,"she's merry enough now. And I know why--and I know why," she added toherself, with a pleasant little laugh. "Poor darling! If she marriesnow, it will be the man who has stolen away her heart."

  There was no news that evening when the lawyer came from town, seemingquite to have settled down now to the place, and making but rarereferences to his departure. Gertrude had just come in from a visit toBruno, who had altered wonderfully during the past few days; and as shecame in, it was plain to see the heart was light which animated herstep, telling the thoughtful of the calm and satisfied waiting of theheart for that which was to be.

  "I thought Doctor Lawrence was coming down with you, Mr Hampton?" shecried.

  "Eh? Yes, my dear; but he preferred going and seeing a patient first.He said he'd catch the next train, and ought to be here as--There heis."

  Gertrude ran to the window to wave her hand to the amiable old man, butshrank back covered with confusion, and looking suspiciously from one tothe other.

  "Anything the matter, my dear?" said Mrs Hampton wonderingly.

  "Matter? No," said the lawyer, glancing towards the window. "Why, hangit all! he has brought down Mr Blank."

  "And, pray, who is Mr Blank?" said the old lady, adjusting her glasses."Why, Phineas, what do you mean? It's Mr George Harrington."

  "Good-evening, ladies. There, you need not look so severe, Hampton; Ibrought our young friend down, and if the ladies consider that I haveexceeded my rights, we'll go back again."

  "Such nonsense!" said Mrs Hampton sharply.

  "I hope you will forgive my coming," the doctor's companion was sayingto Gertrude, as she shook hands.

  Silence is said to give consent. That must have been the interpretationplaced upon Gertrude's silence, for her heart was too full to speak, andtheir visitor stayed and dined.

  "No," he said, in the course of the conversation, as to his proceedings,for imperceptibly he had won so upon all present that they seemed now toaccept his words as those of the truth: "I have worked very hard andtraced our friend to all his haunts, where he is well-known, but Icannot find that he has been there since the night he left here. I havebeen over to Paris, and on to Switzerland."

  "With ten pounds?" said the old lawyer sharply.

  "No. I wrote to Doctor Lawrence when that sum was expended. Did he nottell you?"

  "No; I've been so busy and anxious over Saul Harrington's case that Iforgot to name it, Hampton."

  The lawyer grunted.

  "I have traced Mr Saul Harrington's course over on the Continent aseasily as could be, but I did not hear a word about his accident."

  "That's strange," said Mrs Hampton.

  "Neither could I find that mine enemy had been with him. He was aloneall through; and, after spending a lot of money, time, and thought, I amforced to come back and say to you that I must seem in your eyes agreater impostor than ever."

  "You must try again," said the doctor cheerfully. "The position remainsthe same."

  "Yes, I must try again," said the young man thoughtfully. "But I beginto fancy that I have been working from the wrong end. We shall see."

  The dinner passed off without further allusion to the search for themissing man; but it was plain enough that the visitor's every movementwas being critically scanned, the three elders unconsciously seeking forsuspicious movements, or words that might indicate their visitor wasplaying a part, but with the result that they grew greater partisansthan ever.

  "You'll join us in the drawing-room?" said Mrs Hampton, as the ladiesrose from the table; and she looked direct at the visitor.

  "You are very kind," he replied, "but I was going to talk business withthese gentlemen for a few minutes, and then go back to town."

  "You will have plenty of time for both," said the old lady; and then asthey left the room: "I look your place then, Gertie, and acted as yourmouthpiece," she whispered. "Did I play my part correctly?"

  Gertrude tried to answer, but the words would not come; and, escapingfrom her companion in dread lest she would break down, she ran off tothe stable to make Bruno her confidant, and ended by bringing him withher to let him lie down upon the grass just outside the drawing-roomwindow.

  Meanwhile, the gentlemen were discussing the topic uppermost in theirminds, and the result of the conversation was a declaration from thevisitor that Saul Harrington must be made to speak out.

  "Must?" said the old lawyer. "Easily said, sir; but suppose it isagainst Saul Harrington's interest to speak. A cross-examiningbarrister might do a great deal, but you could do nothing."

  "I don't know; so much depends upon accident. At all events I shall seehim at once."

  "That would be useless just now," said the doctor. "He is seriouslyill, and half delirious at times. You could do no good by seeing himnow."

  "Let's join the ladies," said the lawyer. "I wish you would not comedown here, sir. It seems to me that you place me in a very peculiarposition."

  "One for which you will
be grateful some day, Mr Hampton," said theyoung man laughing. "How hard it is to get elderly people to do theirduty."

  They were on the way to the drawing-room, and the doctor had just openedthe door.

  There was a loud bark, and the sound of something being overturned.

  "Bruno! Bruno!" cried Gertrude, as she caught the dog by his collar.

  "Bless us and save us, my dear!" cried Mrs Hampton. "Do have that doglocked up."

  "What's that? My patient!" said the young man, as he entered thedrawing-room.

  Gertrude's ears tingled, for this was all new to those present.

  There was a volley of barks and the dog stood panting and listening.

  "Well, Bruno, old fellow; how's the head?"

  The dog gave a joyful whine, ran to him, and tried to raise himself upso as to place his paws upon the speaker's breast, but failed.

  "Come, you are ten times better than when I saw you last--ever so muchstronger, too. Why, the head's getting all right again."

  "When did he see him last?" thought Mrs Hampton.

  "Why, you seem old friends," said Doctor Lawrence.

  "Yes," said Gertrude quickly. "Mr George Harrington saw me when I wasdown the garden one day with the dog."

  The lawyer coughed.

  "No, sir, don't do that," said the young man laughing, as he sat withthe dog resting his heavy head upon his knee.

  "Do what, sir?"

  "Cough in that meaning way. It is a reflection upon the lady."

  "Oh, indeed!"

  "Either upon her seeing me one day by accident, or upon her calling meMr George Harrington. Come, Mr Hampton it is of no use your holdingback. Never mind the lawyer. The man believes I am George Harrington,and surely there can be no harm in two affianced folk having half anhour's chat about a dog."

  The position was most painful for Gertrude, but there was a suddendiversion, for the gate-bell rang, and Mrs Hampton came to her help.

  "Visitors! and to-night. Why, my dear, whom do you expect?"

  A pause ensued as steps were heard, and directly after the oldhousekeeper entered quickly to whisper to Gertrude:

  "Mr Saul, miss, and he does seem so strange."

  Saul Harrington had entered close behind her, a strange, ghastly-lookingobject, the more strange in aspect from his hair clinging above his darkbrow, and his dress consisting mainly of an overcoat tightly-buttonedabout his throat.

  "My dear sir!" cried the doctor, as he hurried to his side; but at thatmoment there was an ominous sound, and Saul seized a chair and whirledit above his head.