Part 79 (1/2)

”Then look here,” said Claud, anxiously, ”ought I to--I mean, ought you to send over to somebody and tell her how things are going on? She'll be horribly anxious.”

Leigh frowned slightly.

”You mean my sister, of course,” he said. ”No; she is aware that I was called in to a case of emergency, but she does not know that it is here.”

”Doesn't she know? I say, though, I'm a bit puzzled how you came here.”

”This man fetched me.”

”Fetched you? How came he to do that?”

”In ignorance of who I was, of course. But how came you here so opportunely?”

”Oh, I've been watching and tracking for long enough, till I ran him to earth; and I've been trying for days to get at him. Got hold of that woman with the tied-up head at last--only this evening--and was going to bribe her, but she let out everything to me, and after telling me everything, said she'd let me in. So I went for you, and as you were out I was obliged to try and get Kate away at once. You know the rest I say, this is what you call a climax, isn't it?”

Leigh sat gazing at him sternly, but Claud did not avoid his eyes, and went on.

”Now look here; of course he got her for the sake of her money, and she can't stop here. But she must be taken away as soon as she can be moved.”

”Of course.”

”Yes, of course,” said Claud, firmly. ”It isn't a time for stickling about ourselves; we've got to think about her, poor la.s.s. d.a.m.n him! I feel as if I could go and tear all his bandages off--a beast!”

”What do you propose, then?” said Leigh, calmly.

”Well, for the present we'd better take her to your house. She must be in a horrid state, and the best thing for her is to find herself along with some one she loves. It will do her no end of good to find Jenny's--I beg your pardon, Miss Leigh's arms around her.”

”Yes, you are quite right; and I could go to an hotel.”

”Humph! Yes, I suppose you ought to, but I've been thinking of something else, if you don't mind. The guv'nor's shut up with his gout, so I think I ought to go home and fetch the mater. She talks a deal, but she's a jolly motherly sort, and was fond of Kate. There's no harm in her, only that she's a bit soft about her beautiful boy--me, you know,” he said, with one of his old grins.

Leigh winced a little, and Claud's face grew solemn directly.

”I say,” he said hastily, ”it was queer that he should have come and fetched you, wasn't it?”

”Yes,” said Leigh, ”a curious stroke of fate, or whatever you may call it; and yet simple enough. It was in a case of panic; he was seeking a doctor, and my red lamp was the first he saw. But after all, it was the same when we were boys; if we had strong reasons, through some escapade, for wis.h.i.+ng to avoid a certain person, he was the very first whom we met.”

”Yes, Mr Wilton; what you propose is the best course that can be pursued, and I think it is our duty towards your cousin; we can arrange later on what ought to be done about this man. You and your relatives may or may not think it right to prosecute him, but you may rest a.s.sured that his injury will keep him a close prisoner for a long while to come.”

”Yes, I suppose that fall was a regular crippler, but you have to think about prosecuting too. The law does not allow people to use pistols.”

”We can discuss that by-and-by. Now, please, I shall be greatly obliged if you will go to my sister, and tell her as much as you think is necessary. If she has gone to bed she must be roused. Ask her to be ready to receive Miss Wilton, and then I think you ought to go down to Northwood and fetch Mrs Wilton.”

”All right--like a shot,” said Claud, eagerly. ”I mean directly,” he cried, colouring a little. ”But, er--you mean this?”

”Of course,” said Leigh, smiling; ”why should I not? Let me be frank with you, if I can with a sensation of having a hole bored through my arm with a red-hot bar. A short time back I felt that if there was a man living with whom I could never be on friendly terms, you were that man; but you have taught me that it is dangerous to judge any one from a shallow knowledge of what he is at heart. I know you better now; I hope to know you better in the future. Will you shake hands?”

”Oh!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Claud, seizing the hand violently, and dropping it the next instant as if it were red-hot. For Leigh's face contracted, and he turned faint from the agony caused by the jar. ”What a thoughtless brute I am! Here, have another gla.s.s of that beast's wine.”

”No, no, I'm better now. There, quick! It must be very late, and I don't want my sister to have gone to bed. I dare say she would sit up for me some time, though.”