Part 2 (1/2)
Mrs. LaGrange exerted herself to be particularly entertaining to Mr.
Whitney, but he, though courteously responding to her overtures, made no effort to continue the conversation. Even the genial Mr. Thornton was in so abstracted a mood that his daughter at last rallied him on his appearance, whereupon he turned somewhat abruptly to his host with the inquiry,--
”Are you personally acquainted with Richard Hobson?”
For an instant, Hugh Mainwaring seemed confused, and Mr. Whitney, always on the alert, noted a peculiar expression flash across the face of Mrs. LaGrange, and was also conscious of an almost imperceptible start on the part of the young secretary seated near him.
Mr. Mainwaring quickly recovered himself and replied, deliberately, ”Richard Hobson, the attorney? I believe I met him once or twice, years ago, in London, but I cannot claim any acquaintance with him.”
”d.i.c.k Hobson does not deserve the name of attorney,” remarked Ralph Mainwaring; ”he is a shyster and a scoundrel.”
”He certainly bears a hard reputation,” rejoined Mr. Thornton; ”and I would not have mentioned his name, only that I met him here about half an hour since, and that caused me to make the inquiry I did.”
Hugh Mainwaring paled visibly, though he remained calm. ”Met him here, in my house? Impossible!” he exclaimed, at the same time glancing towards the butler, but the face of that functionary was as immobile as rock. ”I did not suppose the man was in this country!”
”Oh, yes,” replied Ralph Mainwaring; ”he left England about two years ago; he played one too many of his dirty games there and took the first steamer for America, hoping, I suppose, to find a wider sphere of action in this country.”
”Possibly I may have been mistaken,” remarked Mr. Thornton, quietly, realizing that he had unconsciously touched an unpleasant chord, ”but the resemblance was certainly striking.”
An awkward silence followed, broken by young Scott, who excused himself on the plea of important work and returned to Mr.
Mainwaring's library, where he was soon joined by all the gentlemen excepting young Mainwaring. In the hall, Hugh Mainwaring paused for a few words with the butler, and the attorney, pa.s.sing at that moment, caught the man's reply, given in a low tone,--
”No, sir; Mrs. LaGrange.”
A little later, the last will and testament of Hugh Mainwaring was signed by the testator, and duly attested by Ralph Mainwaring, William Mainwaring Thornton, and William H. Whitney. As the last signature was completed, Hugh Mainwaring drew a heavy sigh, saying in a low tone,--
”That is as I wished, my namesake is my heir;” then taking the doc.u.ment, he placed it in the hands of his secretary, adding, ”Lay this for the present on my desk. To-morrow I wish it to be read in the presence of all the members of the family, after which, Mr.
Whitney, I desire to have it put in your possession for safe keeping until it is needed; when that will be, no one can say;--it may be sooner than we think.”
A marked change had come over his manner since luncheon, and his tones, even more than his words, made a deep impression on the mind of every one present. The shade of melancholy pa.s.sed, however, and, ringing the bell, Hugh Mainwaring ordered carriages for himself and his guests for the afternoon and departed, leaving his secretary to attend to some private work in the library. Harry Scott's manner, upon finding himself alone within the private rooms of Hugh Mainwaring, betrayed intense excitement. He pushed his work impatiently from him and, rising, began to walk swiftly, though noiselessly, back and forth, the entire length of the two apartments.
Twice he paused before the large desk, and taking therefrom the will, already familiar to him, read its contents with burning eyes while his face alternately flushed and paled. Then folding and replacing the doc.u.ment, he turned towards the safe, muttering,--
”It is no use. I have searched there once before and could find nothing.”
Suddenly he exclaimed, ”No one knows what may happen; this may be my last opportunity! I will search once more and leave not a corner unexplored.”
Having locked the library, he returned to the safe. He knew the combination, and soon the great doors swung open, revealing the contents arranged with the precision for which Mr. Mainwaring was noted in his business habits. Conscious that he had abundance of time for the work he had undertaken and that he was secure from interruption, he began a careful and methodical search through all the compartments. Various private doc.u.ments were examined and then replaced in exactly their original position, but all seemed of no avail. He discovered no trace of that which he hoped to find.
At last he came to a metallic box, which he surmised, from its weight and general appearance, contained the old family jewels.
Should he open that? A moment's thought decided the question; he would leave nothing unexplored. Further search revealed the key concealed in a tiny drawer. He applied it to the lock; the cover flew backward, and a dazzling light flashed into his face as a ray of sunlight fell across his shoulder upon the superb gems, gleaming and scintillating from the depths of their hiding-place. But he paid little heed to them, for, in a long and narrow receptacle within one side of the box, his keen eye had discovered a paper, yellow and musty with age, the sight of which thrilled him with hope. He quickly drew it forth, and a single glance at its t.i.tle a.s.sured him it was indeed the object of his search. With a low cry of joy, he locked and replaced the metallic box, and, opening the ancient doc.u.ment, he eagerly scanned its contents, an expression of intense satisfaction overspreading his features.
He was still perusing the paper when he heard footsteps approaching the library through the long corridor, followed an instant later by a knock. Depositing the precious doc.u.ment safely within an inside pocket, he swung the doors of the safe together, turning the handle so as to lock it securely, and, crossing the library, unlocked and opened the door.
The butler was standing there, and, handing Scott a card, said, briefly,
”A gentleman on private business; must see Mr. Mainwaring or his secretary at once.”
Scott glanced at the card: it bore the name of ”J. Henry Carruthers,”