The Malefactor

by E. Phillips Oppenheim

  AYNESWORTH PLANS A LOVE STORY

  Wingrave disappeared suddenly from London. Aynesworth alone knew wherehe was gone, and he was pledged to secrecy. Two people received lettersfrom him. Lady Ruth was one of them.

  "This," she remarked quietly, handing it over to her husband, "mayinterest you."

  He adjusted his eye glasses and read it aloud:--

  "Dear Lady Ruth,--I am leaving London today for several weeks. With theusual inconsistency of the person to whom life is by no means a valuableasset, I am obeying the orders of my physician. I regret, therefore,that I cannot have the pleasure of entertaining your husband andyourself during Cowes week. The yacht, however, is entirely at yourdisposal, and I have written Captain Masterton to that effect. Prayextend your cruise, if you feel inclined to.--I remain, yours sincerely,W."

  Mr. Barrington looked at his wife inquiringly.

  "That seems to me entirely satisfactory, Ruth," he said. "I think thathe might have added a word or two of acknowledgment for what you did forhim. There is no doubt that, but for your promptness, things might havegone much worse."

  "Yes," Lady Ruth said slowly, "I think that he might have added a fewwords."

  Her husband regarded her critically.

  "I am afraid, dear," he said, "that all this anxiety has knocked you upa little. You are not looking well."

  "I am tired," she answered calmly. "It has been a long season. I shouldlike to do what Wingrave has done--go away somewhere and rest."

  Barrington laid his hand upon hers affectionately. It seemed to him thatthe rings hung a little loosely upon the thin, white fingers. She waspale, too, and her eyes were weary. He did not notice that, as soon asshe could, she drew her hand away.

  "Pon my word," he said, "I wish we could go off somewhere by ourselves.But with Wingrave's yacht to entertain on, we must do something for afew of the people. I don't suppose he minds whom we ask, or how many."

  "No!" she answered, "I do not suppose he cares."

  "It is most opportune," Barrington declared. "I wanted particularly todo something for the Hendersons. He seems very well disposed, and hisinfluence means everything just now. Really, Ruth, I believe we aregoing to pull through after all."

  She smiled a little wearily.

  "Do you think so, Lumley?"

  "I am sure of it, Ruth," he answered. "I only wish I could see you alittle more cheerful. Surely you can't still--be afraid of Wingrave," headded, glancing uneasily across the table.

  She looked him in the eyes.

  "That is exactly what I am," she answered. "I am afraid of him. I havealways been afraid. Nothing has happened to change him. He came back tohave his revenge. He will have it."

  Lumley Barrington, for once, felt himself superior to his clever wife.He smiled upon her reassuringly.

  "My dear Ruth," he said, "if only you would reflect for a few moments,I feel sure you would realize the absurdity of such fancies. We didWingrave a service in introducing him to society here, and I am surethat he appreciated it. If he wished for our ruin, why did he lend useight thousand pounds on no security? Why does he lend us his yacht toentertain our friends? Why did he give me that information which enabledme to make the only money I ever did make on the Stock Exchange?"

  She smiled contemptuously.

  "You do not understand a man like Wingrave," she declared. "Nothing thathe has done is inconsistent with my point of view. He gave you a safetip, knowing very well that when you had won a little, you would tryagain on your own account and lose--which you did. He lent us the moneyto become our creditor; and he lends us the yacht to give another handleto the people who are saying already that he occupies the positionin our family which is more fully recognized on the other side of theChannel!"

  "You are talking rubbish," he declared vehemently. "No one would dare tosay such a thing of you--of my wife!"

  She laughed unmercifully.

  "If you were not my husband," she said cruelly, "you would have heardit before now. I have been careful all my life--more careful than mostwomen, but I can hear the whisperings already. There are more ways toruin than one, Lumley."

  "We will refuse the yacht," Barrington said sullenly, "and I will go tothe Jews for that eight thousand pounds."

  "We will do nothing of the sort," Lady Ruth answered. "I am not goingto be a laughing stock for Emily and her friends if I can help it.We'll play the game through now! Only--it is best for you to know therisks..."

  Wingrave's second letter was to Juliet. She found it on her table oneafternoon when she came back from her painting class. She tore it openeagerly enough, but her face clouded over as she read.

  "Dear Juliet,--I am sorry that I am unable to carry out my promise tocome and see you, but I have been slightly indisposed for some days, andam leaving London, for the present, almost at once. I trust that you arestill interested in your work, and will enjoy your trip to Normandy.

  "I received your letter, asking for my help towards re-establishing inlife a poor family in whom you are interested. I regret that I cannotaccede to your request. It is wholly against my principles to give moneyaway to people of this class. I look upon all charity as a mischievousattempt to tamper with natural laws, and I am convinced that if everyoneshared my views, society would long ago have been re-established ona sounder and more logical basis. To be quite frank with you, also, Imight add that the gift of sympathy has been denied to me. I am quiteindifferent whether the family you allude to starve or prosper.

  "So far as you yourself are concerned, however, the matter is entirelydifferent. If it gives you pleasure to assist in pauperizing any numberof your fellow creatures, pray do so. I enclose a check for L100. It isa present to you. Use it entirely as you please--only, if you use itfor the purpose suggested in your letter to me, remember that theresponsibility is yours, and yours alone.--I remain, sincerely yours,Wingrave Seton."

  Juliet walked straight to her writing table. Her cheeks were flushed,and her eyes were wet with tears. She drew out a sheet of note paper andwrote rapidly:--

  "My dear guardian,--I return you the check. I cannot accept suchpresents after all your goodness to me. I am sorry that you feel as youdo about giving money away. You are so much older and wiser than I amthat I dare not attempt to argue with you. Only it seems to me that lifewould be a cruelly selfish thing if we who are so much more fortunatethan many of our fellow creatures did not sometimes try to help them alittle through their misery. Perhaps I feel this a little more keenlybecause I wonder sometimes what might not have become of me but for yourgoodness.

  "I am sorry that you are going away without coming to see me again.You are not displeased with me, I hope, for asking you this, or for anyother reason? I am foolish enough to feel a little lonely sometimes.Will you take me out again when you come back?--Your affectionate ward,Juliet."

  Juliet went out and posted her letter. On the way back she metAynesworth.

  "Come and sit in the Park for a few minutes," he begged.

  She turned and walked by his side willingly enough.

  "Have you been in to see me?" she asked.

  "Yes!" he answered. "I have some tickets for the Haymarket for tonight.Do you think we could persuade Mrs. Tresfarwin to come?"

  "I'm sure we could," she answered, laughing. "Hannah never wants anypersuading. How nice of you to think of us!"

  "I am afraid," he answered, "that I think of you a good deal."

  "Then I think that that also is very nice of you!" she declared.

  "You like to be thought of?"

  "Who doesn't? What is the play tonight?"

  "I'll tell you about it afterwards," he said. "There is something else Iwant to say to you first."

  She nodded. She scarcely showed so much interest as he would have liked.

  "It is about Berneval," he said, keeping his eyes fixed upon her face."I saw Mr. Pleydell today, and he told me that you were all going there.He suggested that I should come too!"

  "How delightful!" she exclaimed. "Can you r
eally get off?"

  "Yes. Sir Wingrave is going away, and doesn't want me. I must gosomewhere, and I thought that I might go over and take rooms near youall. Would you care to have me?"

  "Of course I would," she answered frankly. "Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly,her face clouding over--"I forgot!"

  "Well?"

  "I am not sure," she said, "that I am going."

  "Not going?" he repeated incredulously. "Mr. Pleydell told me that itwas all arranged."

  "It was--until today," she said. "I am a little uncertain now."

  He looked at her perplexed.

  "May I know why?" he asked.

  She raised her eyebrows slightly.

  "You are rather an inquisitive person," she remarked. "The fact is, Imay need the money I have saved for Berneval for somewhere else."

  "Of course," he said slowly, "if you don't go--I don't. But you can'tstay in London all through the hot weather!"

  "Miss Pengarth has asked me to go down there," she said.

  He laid his hand suddenly upon hers.

  "Juliet," he said.

  She shook her head.

  "Miss Lundy, please!"

  "Well, Miss Lundy then! May I talk to you seriously?"

  "I prefer you frivolous," she murmured. "I like to be amused."

  "I'll be frivolous enough later on this evening. I've been wonderingif you'd think it impertinent if I asked you to tell me about yourguardian."

  "What do you want to know?" she asked.

  "Just who he is, and why he is content to let you live with only an oldwoman to look after you. It isn't the best thing in the world for you,is it? I should like to know him, Juliet."

  She shook her head.

  "I am sorry," she said, "I cannot tell you anything."

  There was a short silence. Aynesworth was disappointed, and showed it.

  "It isn't exactly ordinary curiosity," he continued. "Don't think that!Only I feel that you need someone who has the right to advise you andlook after you. I should like to be your guardian, Juliet!"

  She laughed merrily.

  "Good!" she declared. "I like you so much better frivolous. Well, youshall have your wish. You shall be my guardian for the evening. I haveone cutlet for dinner, and I am sure it will be spoilt. Will you comeand share it?"

  She rose to her feet and stood looking down upon him. He was struck, forthe first time, by something different in her appearance. The smooth,delicate girlishness of her young face was, as yet, untroubled. Her eyeslaughed frankly into his, and all the grace of natural childhood seemedstill to linger about her. And yet--there was a change! Understandingwas there; understanding, with sorrow in its wake. Aynesworth wassuddenly anxious. Had anything happened of which he was ignorant? Herose up slowly. He was sure of himself now! Was he sure of her?