Part 11 (1/2)
Placing the doc.u.ments on the table, the lawyer continued. ”I have here,” he said, ”a third part of a sheet of writing, which, when united to its fellows, will disclose the exact position of the hidden riches of Holwick. Another portion worthy Sir George hath, while you, Sir Aubrey, must in truth produce the third part.”
At this the knight laid down a paper which I recognized as the one that had been read by him under such strange circ.u.mstances at Rake, some eight years before, and the light flashed across me--the senseless jargon that he had read was part of a secret code whereby I should inherit my fortune.
”Now, Sir Aubrey, where is your share of the doc.u.ment?”
I stammered that I had not such a paper.
”Then----”
”Stay one moment, Master Whitehead,” said Sir George; ”if I remember aught, Sir Aubrey never had his part of the doc.u.ment delivered to him. His father expressly stated that a metal box was to be given to him, and under pains and penalties he was not to open it to this day. But, as we know, that box was filched, and therefore Sir Aubrey could not possibly have opened it, neither can he be held accountable for its contents.”
”True, true! Sir George,” replied Master Whitehead; ”but unfortunately, though Sir Aubrey is not to be held accountable, the fact remains that the complete solution is missing, and, as my late client refused to make a duplicate, the secret is as far off as ever.”
Here I could not forbear from interrupting the argument betwixt the knight and the lawyer.
”But I have a copy of the part that should have been entrusted to me!”
”Heaven bless the boy!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Sir George. ”Where is it, and how came you by it?”
In answer I rushed off to my own room, laid hold of the precious copy, and returned.
”Here it is!” I shouted triumphantly, handing it to Master Whitehead, and straightway I told them of my meeting with Increase Joyce, and how I secured the temporary possession of the filched doc.u.ment.
”Now for the test,” remarked Sir George when I had finished my tale, and straightway the three papers were placed side by side on the table, everyone crowding round to read what the joint doc.u.ment would reveal.
The paper which I produced did not correspond with the others, and the lawyer twisted and turned them about for some considerable time. At length a puckered frown overspread his wizened face, and he beat upon the table with his fingers with the air of a man who has sustained a momentary check.
”'To Beverley without ye gate on ye highway----' that reads aright; but the next line doth not seem in keeping with the rest. How now, Sir George, if thy wits are as sharp as thy sword----”
But Sir George Lee shook his head. ”Troth!” he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, ”if a man of law cannot frame the wording of a doc.u.ment, how can I, a country gentleman, hope to do it?”
”Methinks I can help you,” spoke a soft, sweet voice, and looking up I saw Mistress Felgate, who, hand in hand with her husband, had been a silent yet interested listener to the discussion.
The lawyer rose, and with great courtesy placed his hand over his heart and bowed, yet his manner betokened a professional scorn for feminine advice.
”At your service, madam.”
”Then begin with the bottommost line and read upwards.”
”'Whereas my sonne having trulie carried out mine desires----'”
”Faith, sweetest, thy wits have proved better than the lawyer's!” interrupted Felgate, bringing his fist down heavily on the table in his excitement.
”'----Mine desires'” resumed Master Whitehead, receiving the interruption with a deprecatory cough, ”'I doe hereby give full directions in soe that the treasures of mine house at Holwick may come to him by right. Digge IIJ feet down at x.x.xII paces from y^e west side of y^e wall, keeping in line II tall fir trees that doe lie without y^e gate on y^e highway to Beverley.'”
”Nothing particularly difficult about these instructions,” remarked my uncle.
”I think so too,” I replied; ”and even now that villain Joyce may be making a second and possibly successful attempt to recover what is mine by rights. Indeed, from what he told me, he must have been very near the spot.”
”There is little time to be lost,” replied Sir George. ”My advice to you is that you travel hotfoot to Holwick, and leave nothing undone till you lay hands on the treasure. Would I were a score or so of years younger and I would bear you company with the greatest of pleasure.”
”I'll start to-morrow!” I exclaimed resolutely.
”I am with you, Aubrey,” said Drake, grasping my hand.
”And I cannot desert my old s.h.i.+pmates,” added Felgate. ”So I hoist the signal for permission to part company; and if my senior officer will comply, I'll weigh anchor with you to-morrow.”
Mistress Felgate gave her permission with the stipulation that her husband must run no needless risks, the compact was sealed by a kiss bestowed by her gallant and unabashed bridegroom, and the conversation was resumed, while mirth and gaiety reigned supreme.
My mind, however, was too full of feverish anxiety for me to enjoy the festivities, and drawing Greville aside, I discussed our forthcoming journey.
”And if you find that Joyce has forestalled you?” he asked.
”Then I'll track him to the utmost end of the earth.”
”And then----?”
”Greville, you know that I am not a revengeful man by nature, but I swear that that villain dies by my hand.”
”Then why didn't you kill him at Haarlem?”
”And get hanged for my pains? No, no! 'Tis a waiting game.”
Presently Felgate joined us, and together we slipped out of the house, crossed the street, and entered the establishment that Nicholas Wade ran under the designation of posting stables.
The owner, bald-headed, high-shouldered, and bow-legged like many of his cla.s.s, came forth and mincingly asked what we required.
”Horses, man, horses! The best you have in your stables.
”For how long, your honour?”
”As long as it serves us. This bay will suit me.”
”And I take a fancy to that black mare,” added Drake.
”Nay, you've forestalled me,” rejoined Felgate laughingly. ”But no matter, the brown nag will serve me, for of a verity I feel more at home in a jollyboat than on the back of that beast.”
The question of terms was quickly settled, and the mounts were ordered to be brought round at nine the next morning. Then we went back to enjoy the festivities, longing the while for the morrow to come.
CHAPTER XIX.
--How Three Hors.e.m.e.n set out for the North.
Punctually to the minute our steeds were brought round, the farewells were said, and with a loose rein we cantered down the narrow cobble-paved street towards the Landport Gate. The horses' hoofs echoed under the dark gateway and clattered across the drawbridge, the town of Portsmouth was left behind, and the dense cl.u.s.ter of timbered and red-tiled houses gave place to verdant fields and clumps of tall trees that even now were beginning to burst into leaf.
We were each armed with sword and pistols, for the highways were far from safe, and we wot not what awaited us at our journey's end. The fine spring morning told on our spirits and we were in good humour. Conversation, mingled with laugh and jest, flowed fast, and one would have imagined we were setting out for a holiday rather than on an expedition on which fortune, nay life and death, depended.