Part 28 (1/2)
”I shall never forget the picture those two made standing there,” said Hester, looking back towards the verandah. ”Those sad eyes of the old man wring my heart. How good it is that Mark seems to love him like a son.”
”Yes, my dear, we've had a very pleasant visit, though it was impromptu.
We'll be able to tell the Colonel how well it turned out.”
CHAPTER XXVII.
As Alfred Rayner was being driven along the crowded streets of Calcutta after his call on Truelove Brothers, he felt less inclined than ever for a pleasure trip on the river, or even for a return to tiffin with his host and hostess. He decided that he must find a safety-valve for his disturbed state of mind, and presently he caught sight of a gaudy sign announcing: ”Tiffin and Billiards within.” The place looked large and airy, and he saw some figures like European gentlemen moving about within.
”I'll tiff here more comfortably than with those worthy Melfords,” he said to himself, and called to the gharry-wallah to halt. He paid his fare, dismissed him, and entered the wide doorway.
During lunch he made the acquaintance of some of the _habitues_ of the Club, who appeared eager to receive him, and invited him to share their game. Being an excellent billiard player, he congratulated himself as the afternoon advanced on having had a good stroke of fortune in stumbling into this resort.
”I've positively made enough to pay that crawling half-caste if I do make up my mind to buy his secret. Perhaps I'd better take the hazard of the die! It may prove well spent money. I'm convinced I'll hear my secretive pater is a _grand seigneur_, possibly lounging about Piccadilly at this moment while his son is grilling here! I could read in old Fyson's manner, as well as in his words, that my dad was 'somebody,' and if I have the secret from his clerk, I shan't have him to thank for the present of it. Yes, as I've made the required sum I will go and buy it from that creature whose long ears have stood him in good stead.”
He glanced at his watch and found that it was now nearly the appointed hour for the meeting at the Shrine of Kali. Having taken the measure of the men round him, he knew well that they were reckoning on getting his winnings transferred to their own pockets before the evening was over.
To announce therefore his intention to depart would prove worse than foolish. Seizing a moment when he found himself near the door, he flung aside his cue and hurried off with such suddenness that the other inmates of the room did not realise he was gone.
”Very neatly played,” he muttered with a relieved sigh, as he leant back in the tikka-gharry which was carrying him along the brightly-lit streets to the appointed trysting-place.
Presently the paving-stones were left behind, and the gharry rattled along a soft dusty roadway lined by trees, though the presence of lamps indicated that they were still in the suburbs. At last the gharry-wallah pulled up at the precincts of the little sandstone temple embowered by trees. Long dank gra.s.s of a marshy kind grew all round, the temple being in the near neighbourhood of a small river which ran into the Hoogly.
This river was regarded as sacred, and therefore the little shrine had been planted on its banks.
Under the shadow of a big neem tree Mr. Rayner caught sight of the Eurasian clerk, who now came towards him through the long gra.s.s with rapid steps.
”Thought you were never coming, sir,” he began. ”I've been hangin' about this blessed place for more than an hour. I was makin' up my mind you was goin' to give me the slip!”
He was holding some papers in his hand and his eyes shone with excitement. Mr. Rayner dismissed the gharry, and advanced a few steps into the gra.s.s, saying impatiently:
”Well, out with it! Mind, if you humbug me, I'll find means to pay you out in something different from a bag of rupees. But for good value I'll pay you a good price. I know my father must be a person of importance, or Truelove Brothers wouldn't have been so deferential to me all along.”
”You're right, sir, he is a person of veree great importance. What's more, I've seen him with my own eyes and heard 'em whisperin'--the boss and him about you--'Alfred' bein' your name. So you see I know more than you might think to look at me.”
”You'd need to!” said Rayner contemptuously, as he surveyed the bent shoulders and the weak face of this humble member of the race he despised. ”Come on then, out with it! I can't stand all night listening to your haverings. His name and his address!”
”His name is an honoured one among us. It's David Morpeth, sir, and his address is Freyville, Vepery, Madras!”
”You lie--you lie!” shouted Rayner, after a moment's stunned silence, waxing so deadly pale that the clerk thought he was about to faint. Then suddenly he flung himself on the young man and seized him by the throat.
”You lie, say you lie!” he screamed.
The youth strove frantically to shake himself free from the grasp of the convulsive fingers, and after a struggle succeeded in doing so.
”Oh my gracious me!” he gasped. ”Oh, my, what an onset--and for my prime bit of news too, as I thought you'd be proud to hear--you the son of such a man!”
”Listen to me, you idiot,” said Rayner in a choking voice, with an effort to calm himself. ”There must be some mistake! This is not the truth you have told me. Say that you've lied and I'll forgive you--you'll have your hundred rupees. I've got it here--say you've been lying!”
”I can't say no different than what I've stated,” said the clerk, shaking his head dolorously. ”I've got you the proofs in my hand. Though they be pilfered they're genuine, as you, being a man of education, will see at a glance.”
He laid two letters into Rayner's hand. The writing could hardly be distinguished in the dim light, but on his going under one of the lamps he could read the words which David Morpeth had lately written to Mr.