Part 39 (1/2)
”I am not going to argue with you,” said the Duke. ”Dr. Claudius would have gone to Europe in any case, if that is any satisfaction to you.
What did you come here for?”
”Because I thought it right to warn an unsuspecting lady of her danger,”
answered Mr. Screw boldly.
”Is that true? Do you really believe Claudius is not Claudius?” asked the Duke, coming close to the lawyer and looking him in the eyes.
”Certainly, I believe him to be an impostor,” said the other returning his gaze fearlessly.
”I suppose you do,” said the Duke, tolerably satisfied. ”Now then, who sent you here?”
”No one sent me,” answered Screw with some pride. ”I am not in the habit of being sent, as you call it. It was in the course of a conversation I had with Mr. Barker, the other day--”
”I thought so,” interrupted the Englishman. ”I thought Mr. Barker was at the bottom of it. Will you please to deliver a message to Mr. Barker, with my compliments?” Screw nodded solemnly, as under protest.
”Then be kind enough to tell him from me that he is a most infernal blackguard. That if he attempts to carry this abominable plot any further I will post him at every one of his clubs as a liar and a cheat, and--and that he had better keep out of my way. As for you, sir, I would advise you to look into his character, for I perceive that you are an honest man.”
”I am obliged to you, sir,” said Mr. Screw, with something of a sneer.
”But who are you, pray, that ventures to call my clients by such ugly names?”
”There is my card--you can see for yourself,” said the Duke. Screw read it. His anger was well roused by this time.
”We have small respect for t.i.tles in this country, my Lord Duke,” said he stiffly. ”The best thing I can say is what you said to me, that you impress me as being an honest man. Nevertheless you may be mistaken.”
”That is a matter which will be decided the day after to-morrow,” said the other. ”Meanwhile, in pursuance of what I said, I thank you very sincerely indeed”--Mr. Screw smiled grimly--”no, I am in earnest, I really thank you, on behalf of the Countess Margaret, for the honourable part you have endeavoured to perform towards her; and I beg your pardon for having mistaken you, and supposed you were in the plot. But give my message to Mr. Barker--it is actionable, of course, and he may take action upon it, if he likes. Good-morning, sir.”
”Good-morning,” said Screw shortly, somewhat pacified by the Duke's frank apology.
”I think I settled him,” said the peer to Margaret, as they got into the cab that was to drive them to the Park. And they cantered away in royal spirits.
CHAPTER XX.
Whatever reason may say, whatever certainty we may feel, the last hours of waiting for an ocean steamer are anxious ones. The people at the office may a.s.sure us twenty times that they feel ”no anxiety whatever”--that is their stock phrase; our friends who have crossed the ocean twice a year for a score of years may tell us that any vessel may be a few hours, nay, a few days, behind her reckoning; it may seem madness to entertain the least shadow of a doubt--and yet, until the feet we love are on the wharf and the dear glad hands in ours, the shadow of an awful possibility is over us, the dreadful consciousness of the capacity of the sea.
The Duke, who, but for his anxiety to see the end, would have long since been on his way to England, had taken every precaution to ascertain the date of the s.h.i.+p's arrival. He took it for granted that Claudius would sail in the Cunard steamer, and he found out the vessel which sailed next after the Doctor had telegraphed. Then he made arrangements to be informed so soon as she was sighted, determined to go down in the Custom-House tug and board her at the Quarantine, that he might have the satisfaction of being first to tell Claudius all there was to be told.
”The day after to-morrow,” he had said to Margaret, ”we may safely expect him,” and he watched, with a sort of dull pleasure, the light that came into her eyes when she heard the time was so near.
The first disappointment--alas, it was only the first--came on the evening before the appointed day. The Duke received a note from the office to the effect that late arrivals having reported very heavy weather, it was feared that the steamer might be delayed some hours. He at once inquired for the Countess, but found to his annoyance that both she and his sister had gone to the theatre. He had been out when they went, and so they had taken Miss Skeat as a sort of escort, and were doubtless enjoying themselves mightily. It was necessary, however, that Margaret should know the news of the delay before she went to bed, for it would have been cruel to allow her to wake in the morning with the a.s.surance that Claudius might arrive at any moment.
”If I wait for them, and make a fuss, she will think it is something serious,” reflected the Duke with more than usual tact. So he wrote a note, simply stating that he had news of a delay in the arrival of some hours,--perhaps a whole day, he added, wis.h.i.+ng to be on the safe side.
He gave the note to Vladimir, and went away to his rooms.
Margaret and Lady Victoria came home together in great spirits, laughing and rustling in their silk cloaks as they entered the little drawing-room, and sat down by the fire for a chat. Then Vladimir brought the Duke's note. Margaret read it by the firelight, and her face fell suddenly.
”What is it, dear?” asked Lady Victoria affectionately, as she noticed her companion's distressed look.