Captain Bayley's Heir: A Tale of the Gold Fields of California

by G. A. Henty

  CHAPTER XV.

  THE MISSING HEIR.

  IT was a long time before the house in Eaton Square in any way recoveredits former appearance. Captain Bayley had lost much of his life andvivacity, and, as the servants remarked to each other, nothing seemed toput him out. He went for his morning ride in the Park, or his afternoonvisit to the Club, as usual, but his thoughts seemed far away; he passedold friends without seeing them, and if stopped he greeted them nolonger with a cheery ring in his voice, or a quick smile of welcome.Every one who knew him remarked that Bayley was going down hill terriblyfast, and was becoming a perfect wreck.

  Frank's name was never now mentioned in the house. Its utterance had notbeen forbidden, but it had been dropped as a matter concerning which ahopeless disagreement existed. Alice had changed almost as much as heruncle. Her spirits were gone; her voice was no longer heard singingabout the house; she no longer ran up and down the stairs with quickspringing footsteps, and indeed seemed all at once to have changed froma young girl into a young woman. Sometimes, as she sat, the tears filledher eyes and rolled fast down her cheeks; at other times she would walkabout with her eyebrows knitted, and hands clenched, and lips pursedtogether, a little volcano of suppressed anger.

  Although no discussion on the subject had taken place between her andher guardian, it was an understood thing that she maintained heropinion, and that she regarded Fred Barkley as an enemy. If she happenedto be in the room when he was announced, she would rise and leave itwithout a word; if he remained to a meal, she would not make herappearance in the dining or drawing rooms.

  "Alice still regards me as the incarnation of evil," Fred said, with aforced laugh, upon one of those occasions.

  "The child is a trump," Captain Bayley said warmly, "a warm lover and agood hater. What a thing it is," he said, with a sigh, "to be at an agewhen trust and confidence are unshakable, and when nothing will persuadeyou that what you wish to believe is not right; what would I not givefor that child's power of trust?"

  The household in Eaton Square were almost unanimous in Frank's favour.His genial, hearty manners rendered him a universal favourite with theservants; and although none knew the causes of Frank's suddendisappearance, the general opinion was that, whatever had happened, hecould not have been to blame in the matter.

  His warmest adherent was Evan Holl, who had months before beenintroduced to the house as assistant knife and boot cleaner by Frank. Hedid not sleep there, going home at nine o'clock in the evening when hiswork was done.

  "Do you know, Harry," he said, one day, "what a rum crest, as they callsit,--I asked the butler what it meant, and he says as how it was thecrest of the family--Captain Bayley has; he's got it on his silver, andI noticed it when I was in the pantry to-day helping the butler to cleansome silver dishes which had been lying by unused for some time. 'Allfamilies of distinction,' the butler said,--he is mighty fond of usinghard long words--'all families of distinction,' says he, ''as got theirown crest, which belongs to them and no one else. Now this 'ere crest ofthe guv'nor's is a hand holding a dagger, and the hand has only gotthree fingers.' I said as how there was two missing, and that the chapas did it couldn't have known much of his business to go and leave outtwo fingers. But the butler says, 'That's your hignorance,' says he;'the hand 'as got only three fingers because a hancestor of theCaptain's in the time of the Crusaders'---- 'And what's the Crusaders?'says I. 'The Crusaders was a war between the English and the Americanshundreds of years ago,' says he."

  Harry burst into a shout of laughter. "Mr. Butler does not know anythingabout it, for the Crusades were wars between people who went out to theHoly Land to recover the Holy Sepulchre from the Turks who held it."

  "Ah, well," Evan said, "it don't make no odds whether they was Turks orAmericans. However, the butler says as how the Captain Bayley what livedin those days, he saw a red Injun a-crawling to stab the king, who wasa-lying asleep in his tent, and just as his hand was up to stick in theknife, Captain Bayley he gives a cut with his sword which whips off twoof the fingers, and before the Injun could turn round and go at him hegives another cut, and takes off his hand at the wrist, and the next cuthe takes off his head; so the hand with three fingers holding a daggerwas given him to carry as a crest. I suppose after a time the hand gotwore out, or got bad, so as he couldn't have carried it about no longer,and instead of that, as a kind of remembrance of the affair, he 'as themput on his forks and spoons."

  Mrs. Holl had been listening with grave interest to the narrative.

  "Does I understand you to say, Evan, that no other family but that ofthe master's put this three-fingered hand with a knife on to theirthings?"

  "That's so, mother; leastways it's what the butler says about it."

  "Then if that's the case," Mrs. Holl said thoughtfully, "any one who hasgot this crest, as you calls it, on his things must be a relation of theCaptain."

  "I suppose so, mother; he might be a long distance off, you know,because this ere affair took place hundreds of years ago, and there maybe a lot of the same family about in different parts."

  "So there might," Mrs. Holl said, in a disappointed voice.

  "Why, mother," Harry said, "one would think it made some difference toyou, you speak so mournfully about it."

  "It don't make no difference to me, Harry," Mrs. Holl said, "but itmakes a lot of difference to you. You know I told you two or threemonths ago how you come to be here. I don't know as I told you thatround the neck of your mother, when she died in that room, was a bit ofsilk ribbon, and on it was a little seal of gold, with a red stone init, which I put by very careful for you, though what good such a thingwould do to you, or anybody else, I didn't see. Well, on that red stonethere was something cut; and father he took it to a chap as understandsabout those things, who got some red wax, and hotted it, and droppedsome of it on a paper, and then squeezed this 'ere stone down on it, andlooks at the mark through a eye-glass, and he tells father that it was ahand with three fingers holding a dagger."

  "That was curious, mother," Harry said, "very curious. Can you fetch methe seal and let me have a look at it? I don't remember ever having seenit."

  The seal was fetched by Mrs. Holl from a pill-box, in which it wascarefully stored away in the corner of a drawer. Harry examined itclosely.

  "It looks like a hand holding a dagger," he said, "but it's too smallfor me to see whether it has three fingers or four. Evan, will you runround with it to the little watchmaker's in the next street, and ask himto look at it with one of the glasses he sticks in his eye when he is atwork, and to tell you whether it has three fingers or four."

  Evan returned in a few minutes with the news that the watchmaker at oncesaid that the hand had but three fingers.

  "Well, from that, Harry," Mrs. Holl said, "if what this man have beenand told Evan is right, you must be some relation to Captain Bayley."

  "A cousin, fifty times removed, perhaps," Harry laughed, "but at anyrate, it is pleasant to be able to think that I come of a good family."

  "You knew that before, Harry," Mrs. Holl said severely, "for I told youover and over again that your mother was a lady, though she was in badcircumstances, and I think, after charring in respectable houses for thelast twenty years, I ought to know a lady when I sees one. Well,there's nothing as you think I could do about it?"

  "I should think not," Harry laughed. "How the old gent would stare ifEvan was to walk up to him and say, 'Captain Bayley, I have got afoster-brother at home who, I think, is a relation of yours.' That wouldbe a nice piece of cheek, wouldn't it?"

  Evan laughed.

  "However, mother, I votes as in future we calls Harry Harry Bayleyinstead of Harry Holl."

  "You won't do anything of the sort, Evan," the cripple lad answeredhotly. "Holl's my name, and you don't suppose I am going to drop thename of the father and mother who brought me up, and have tended me allthese years, for Bayley or any other name; besides, even if it shouldturn out that I am remotely connected with the family, there is noreason why my
name should be Bayley, for, of course, if my mother hadbeen a Bayley, she would have changed her name when she married."

  Harry thought but little more of the matter, but Mrs. Holl turned itover frequently in her mind, and discussed it with John. John said, "Hedidn't think much would come of it; still, he didn't see as how therecould be any harm in asking, seeing that she had set her mind on it."

  So Mrs. Holl resolved to move in the matter. Evan, on being appealed to,said that he did not see how she was to get to speak with CaptainBayley; the footman wouldn't be likely to show her in to his masterunless she stated her business. But after much pressing, and declaringover and over again he wished he had never said a word about the handwith three fingers, Evan consented, if he found an opportunity, to askCaptain Bayley to see his mother. This opportunity, however, did notarrive, Evan's duties never bringing him in contact with his employer.At last Mrs. Holl became desperate, and one morning, after breakfast,she went to Captain Bayley's house. The ring at the area-bell broughtout the cook.

  "What is it?" she said sharply.

  "I am the mother, ma'am, of Evan, as works here."

  "Well, come down, if you want to see him."

  "I don't want to see him, I want to see Captain Bayley."

  "I will tell the footman," the cook said, "but I don't think it likelyas you can see the Captain."

  The footman soon made his appearance. Fortunately he was very young, andhad not yet acquired that haughtiness of manner which characterises hisclass. Evan had before told him that his mother wanted to see CaptainBayley, and had begged him to do his best, should she come, tofacilitate her doing so.

  "Good morning," he said. "Your boy told me you would be likely enoughcoming. So you want to see the Captain; he has just finished hisbreakfast and gone into the study. Now, what shall I say you wants tosee him for? I can't show you in, you know, without asking him first."

  The young footman was, indeed, curious to know what Mrs. Holl's objectcould be in wishing to see his master. Evan had resisted all hisattempts to find out, simply saying that it was a private affair of hismother's.

  "Will you say to him," Mrs. Holl said, "that the mother of the boy asworks here under you is most anxious for to see him just for two orthree minutes; that it ain't nothing to do with the boy, but she wishesparticular to ask Captain Bayley a question--if he will be so good asto see her--that no one else but hisself could answer."

  "It's a rum sort of message," the young footman said, "but, anyhow, Iwill give it; the Captain ain't as hot-tempered as he used to be, and hecan but say he won't see you."

  Captain Bayley looked mystified when the footman delivered Mrs. Holl'smessage to him; then he remembered that it was Frank who had introducedher son to help in the house, and he wondered whether her errand couldhave any connection with him.

  "Well, show her up, James," he said; "but just tell her that my time isprecious, and that I don't want to listen to long rambling stories, sowhatever she has got to say, let her say it straight out."

  "It's all right," James said, as, descending to the kitchen, he beckonedMrs. Holl to follow him; "but the Captain says you are to cut it short;so if you wants an answer you had best put your question, whatever itis, short and to the point, or he will snap you up in a minute, I cantell you."

  Mrs. Holl followed into the library. She was at no time a veryclear-headed thinker, and the difficulty of putting her question into afew words pressed heavily upon her.

  "Now, my good woman, what is it?" Captain Bayley said, as she entered."I am going out in a few minutes, so come straight to the point, if youplease."

  "I will come as straight as I can, sir," Mrs. Holl said breathlessly,"but indeed, sir, I am a bad hand at explaining things, and if you snapsme up I shall never get on with it."

  Captain Bayley smiled a little. "Well, I will try and not snap you upif you will come to the point. Now, what is the point?"

  "The point, sir," Mrs. Holl said despairingly, "is a hand with threefingers a-holding of a dagger."

  Captain Bayley looked astonished. "You mean my crest," he said; "why,what on earth are you driving at?"

  "Evan saw it on the forks," Mrs. Holl explained.

  "Yes, no doubt he did," Captain Bayley said; "but what of that? That'smy crest."

  "Yes, sir, so Evan said, and when he told me it just knocked me sillylike, and says I to him, says I----"

  "Never mind what you said to him," Captain Bayley broke in, "what is ityou want to say to me? What is there curious in my crest being on myspoons? Now just wait one minute, and tell me as plainly as you can."

  Mrs. Holl waited a minute.

  "Well, sir, it struck me all in a heap, because I've got in the house athing with just such another hand, a-holding of a knife in it."

  "Oh!" Captain Bayley said, "you have got some article with my crest onit in your house. How did you come by it? It must have been stolen."

  "No, sir, I will take my davey as the young person as was my son Harry'smother never stole nothing in her life."

  "The young person who was your son Harry's mother," Captain Bayleyrepeated, in a somewhat puzzled tone. "Are you talking of yourself?"

  "Lor' no, sir, the young person."

  "But what young person do you mean? How can any young person have beenyour son Harry's mother except yourself?"

  "He ain't really my son, you see, sir; he is the son of a young personwho we took in, John and I, and who died at our house; Harry is herson."

  A great change passed over Captain Bayley's face, the expression ofimpatience died out, and was succeeded by one almost of awe. He droppedthe paper which he had hitherto held in his hand, and leaning forward heasked in low tones--

  "Do you mean that a woman who had in her possession some article with mycrest on it, and who had a child with her, died in your house?"

  "Yes, sir, that's what I mean; the article is a little gold seal, with ared stone to it."

  "How long ago was this?" came slowly from Captain Bayley's lips.

  "About seventeen years ago," Mrs. Holl said. "The mother died a few daysafterwards; the child is our Harry; and I came to ask you--but, goodlawks!"

  An ashen greyness had been stealing across the old officer's face, andMrs. Holl was terrified at seeing him suddenly fall forward across thetable.

  She rushed to the door to ask for help. James was in the hall, havingwaited there, expecting momentarily to hear his master tell him to showhis visitor out. He began to utter exclamations of dismay at seeing hismaster's senseless figure.

  "I will lift him up," she said. "Run and fetch the butler and the cook,and then go for the doctor as quick as you can run; he has got astroke."

  The butler was first upon the scene. Mrs. Holl had already liftedCaptain Bayley into a sitting position. "I have taken off his necktieand opened his collar," she said. The butler, who was unaware of Mrs.Holl's presence there, was astonished at the scene.

  "Who are you?" he gasped, "and what have you been doing to the Captain?If you have killed him it will be a hanging matter, you know."

  "Don't you be a fool," retorted Mrs. Holl sharply, "but run for somewater; he has got a stroke, though what it came from is more nor I cantell."

  To be called a fool by this unknown woman of coarse appearance rousedthe butler's faculties. He was sincerely attached to his master, andwithout reply he at once hurried away for water.

  In five minutes the doctor, who lived close by, entered. Mrs. Holl wasstill holding up the insensible man; Alice stood crying beside her, theservants were looking on.

  "Open the windows," he said.

  Then he felt the Captain's pulse. For some time he stood silent; then hesaid--

  "Lay him down at full length on the couch." Mrs. Holl, without the leasteffort, lifted the slight figure and laid it on the sofa.

  "Now," the doctor said, "will you all leave the room except Miss Hardyand you?" he nodded to Mrs. Holl. As the servants retired reluctantly,the butler said--

  "Please, sir, I don't know wheth
er you know it, but that woman was withhim alone when he got insensible. I don't know what she did to him, butI should recommend that we should have a policeman in readiness."

  "Nonsense," the surgeon said. "However, it will be better that sheshould retire; but let her wait outside, close at hand, in case hewishes to speak to her."

  Sarah Holl followed the servants into the hall. The doctor poured a fewdrops of cordial between Captain Bayley's lips, and placed some strongsalts beneath his nostrils.

  "You think he will come round?" Alice asked.

  "He will come round," the doctor said confidently; "his pulse is gainingpower rapidly. It is not paralysis, but a sort of fainting-fit, broughton, I should imagine, by some sudden shock; his heart is weak, and therewas a sudden failure of its powers. I have warned him over and overagain not to excite himself. However, I think there is no great harmdone this time; but he must be careful in future; another such attackand it might go hard with him. See, he is coming round." In a fewminutes Captain Bayley opened his eyes and looked round vaguely.

  "Lie quiet for a little while, my dear sir," the doctor said cheerfully;"you have been ill, a sort of fainting-fit, but you will be all right ina short time. Drink this glass of cordial." He lifted his patient'shead, and held the glass to his lips. As Captain Bayley drank it Aliceplaced a pillow under his head.

  "How was it?" Captain Bayley asked, in a low tone.

  "We don't know," the Doctor said; "but don't think about it at present.What you have to do now is to get quite strong again; it will be timeafterwards for you to think what upset you. You have given Miss Hardyhere quite a fright."

  Captain Bayley nodded to Alice. "I never did such a thing before," hesaid. "I was reading here in the library----" Then he stopped, a suddenflush came to his face.

  "Don't agitate yourself, my dear sir," the Doctor said soothingly,"agitation now would be a very serious thing. Drink a little more ofthis."

  Captain Bayley did as he was told, and then asked--

  "Where is the woman who was speaking to me?"

  "She is outside," the Doctor said. "I told her to wait. But you reallymust not see her for a time."

  "I am all right now," Captain Bayley said, rising to his elbow, "and itwill agitate me less to see her than to wait. She brought me verystrange news, news which I never thought to hear. It is not bad news, mydear," he said, to Alice, "it is the best news I ever heard. You neednot go away, Doctor," he said, seeing the physician was preparing toleave; "you are an old friend, and know all about it; besides, it is nosecret. You know how I searched for very many years for my daughter andher child, and came at last to the conclusion that both must be dead,for she was in a dying state when last heard of. Well, I have found thatthe boy is alive. He has been brought up by the woman who is the motherof a boy who works here."

  "Oh! I know," Alice exclaimed, "Frank told me the story. She had toldhim about a woman who had fallen down at her door years ago, and how shehad brought up the child. But O uncle!" she said pitifully, "I have asad thing to tell you. Frank said that he was such a nice boy, so cleverand good. Frank used to go and help him with his books, and he can readLatin and all sorts of things; but, uncle, he met with an accident whenhe was little, and he is a cripple."

  For a minute Captain Bayley was silent.

  "It is part of my punishment, dear," he said at last, "God's will bedone. However, cripple or not, I am thankful to find that, from whatyou say, he is a boy whom I can own without shame, for the thought hastroubled me always, that, should Ella's son be alive, he might havegrown up a companion of thieves, a wandering vagabond. Thank God,indeed, it is not so! I am glad you told me, Alice. Now, let me see thisgood woman who has been a mother to him."

  Mrs. Holl was again called in, and was asked to sit down.

  "The question you wished to ask me," Captain Bayley said, "was, Isuppose, whether I could give you any clue as to who was the woman youtook in, and whose child you adopted? She was my daughter."

  "Lor', sir!" Mrs. Holl exclaimed, "who would have thought such a thing?"

  "Who, indeed," Captain Bayley repeated; "but so it was. For years Isought for her in vain, and had long since given up all hope of everhearing of her. Have you got the seal with you?"

  After some search Mrs. Holl produced from the corner of her capaciouspocket the seal, carefully wrapped up in paper.

  "That is it," Captain Bayley said, with a sigh. "Alice, go to my desk,open the inner compartment, and there you will see the fellow to it."Alice did as he requested.

  "There, you see, Doctor, they are exactly alike. They were both made atthe same time, soon after I returned from India, and now, Mrs. Holl,please tell us the whole story as I understand you told it to mynephew."

  Mrs. Holl repeated the story in nearly the same words that she had usedto Frank.

  "God bless you!" Captain Bayley said, when she finished. "No words cantell how grateful I am to you, or how deeply I am moved at the thoughtof the kindness which you and your husband, strangers as you were toher, showed to my poor girl. I hope you will not mind sparing him to menow; your claims are far greater than mine, but you have other children,while I, with the exception of my ward here, am alone in the world."

  "Lor', sir," Mrs. Holl said, wiping her eyes with her apron, "of coursewe will spare him. We shall miss him sorely, for he has indeed been acomfort and a blessing to us; but it is for his good, and you won't mindhis coming to see us sometimes."

  "Mind!" Captain Bayley exclaimed, "he would be an ungrateful rascal ifhe did not want to come and see you constantly. Well, if you will gohome and prepare him a little, I will come round this afternoon and seehim. It's no use shaking your head, Doctor, I feel myself again now; butI will lie down till lunch-time, and will promise not to excitemyself."