Part 36 (2/2)
”I hope you will excuse me,” began the boy, apologetically; then, as Nelly closed the door, he dropped his voice, and said, ”I come from Mr.
Bathurst;” and, taking off his cap, he produced from thence a letter, which he put in her hand.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”I hope you'll excuse me.”]
”I'm to wait for the answer,” he said, and took up his position beside his wares.
Constance opened the letter, with a hand trembling with eagerness. It ran:
MISS WARDOUR:--By all means keep the secret of the diamonds, and trust all to me. I think it best not to come to you, as Belknap keeps a constant watch upon your movements; dismiss him as soon as you like. Have no fears regarding Heath, I have his enemies well roped; be a.s.sured that I shall be on hand when needed, and when you see me expect to have the question of the diamond mystery forever set at rest. If you have anything to say, send verbal instructions by boy; he is to be trusted.
Yours sincerely, NEIL J. BATHURST.
Constance heaved a sigh of relief, as she finished the perusal of this note, and after a moment's reflection, she said:
”Tell Mr. Bathurst that I will obey his instructions, and that Mr.
Belknap will be dismissed from my service to-day.”
”Yes, madam. Now if you will please to select some of these things for the sake of appearance.”
”Of course. You are very thoughtful. Are you a young detective too?”
The boy looked up with a gleam of pride in his eyes.
”I have been in Mr. Bathurst's service two years, madam.”
”Oh, then I have no fears as to your discretion; so I will ask you a question, knowing that you are wise enough to refuse me an answer if I am asking too much.”
The boy smiled, and stood attentive.
”May I ask if Mr. Bathurst is really now in W----, and when he arrived?”
The boy laughed an odd laugh, and full of mischief.
”Mr. Bathurst is here,” he said. ”I can't tell just _when_ he did arrive.”
”Then you did not come together?”
”We! Oh, no, indeed!” laughing again. ”Mr. Bathurst is too smart for that.”
Constance smiled with a returning feeling of ease and restfulness.
”Ah, I see I can trust Mr. Bathurst--and you, and lest I ask the wrong question if I continue, I will not ask another one; tell Mr. Bathurst I rely on him to straighten all the tangles; and that I like his messenger almost as much as his message.”
”My, but ain't she a rum young lady,” mused the boy, as he trudged away from Wardour Place with his lightened tray of ivories, ”and handsome!
jingo! if I was Mr. Bathurst I'd work for her, just to see her smile, and no pay; but Lord, _he_ don't care, he don't; he'll work just as hard for any old crone; he's another rum one.”
”Ah, what a relief,” breathed Constance, reading for the third time Bathurst's rea.s.suring note. ”I begin to feel like myself once more. Now I am ready for you, Mr. private detective Belknap.”
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