Part 22 (1/2)
”I am not aware of any unusual ambition on my part.”
”Oh, no, nothing unusual. You simply had no intention of remaining Hugh Mainwaring's secretary any longer than was necessary. That was perfectly natural, perfectly laudable, my young friend, and I admire the shrewdness and foresight with which you set about to accomplish your designs. At the same time, I believe I am in a position to give you just the information and advice you need in order to insure your success.”
Both men had the same object in view. Each wished to ascertain what the other knew concerning himself. Scott, unable to determine whether Hobson had spoken at random or with an inkling of the facts, answered, coldly,--
”I do not know to what you refer, or on what grounds you base the inference which you seem to have drawn.”
”No? Then you will allow me to remark, Mr. Scott, that such familiarity as yours with a portion of Hugh Mainwaring's private correspondence, extending back over a period of fifteen or more years, taking into consideration the facts that you cannot be much more than twenty-five years of age, and have only been about two years in Mr. Mainwaring's employ, would indicate that you had sought to acquaint yourself with some facts connected with your employer's early life with the express purpose of using the same to your own advantage.”
”You must see the inconsistency of such a supposition, when you consider that I have been in possession of these facts for some time--it is unnecessary to state how long--and have made no use of them whatever.”
”Possibly,” said Hobson, with emphasis, ”your knowledge of the facts may not have been definite enough to warrant your use of them.”
His voice and manner unconsciously betrayed the importance which he attached to Scott's reply. The latter detected this, and answered evasively,--
”It is sufficiently definite for any own personal satisfaction in any event.”
Hobson shook his head. ”It is useless to evade the point. You had an object in looking up that correspondence; you intended to make a good thing out of the facts you got hold of; and, if your information is sufficiently complete, you can make a good thing out of them yet.”
”If I have not attempted anything of that kind in the past, would I be likely to try it at this late day?” Scott asked, with the air of one who is open to any available suggestion.
Hobson at once a.s.sumed a confidential manner, and, moving a little nearer his visitor, replied, in a low tone,--
”Look here, Mr. Scott, that's just why I wanted to meet you. You see I knew more about you than you think. I've taken an unusual interest in you, too; and, seeing the little game you were playing, and knowing that I held the trump card myself, I naturally would like to take a hand and help you out at the same time. Now, the point is just this, Mr. Scott: What do you really know concerning the transaction referred to in that correspondence? I suppose you are familiar with all the letters that pa.s.sed on both sides?”
”Perfectly so.”
”Certainly. But you will acknowledge, Mr. Scott, that those letters were expressed in very guarded terms, and, with the exception of possibly one or two, gave no hint of the nature of that transaction.
Remember,” he added, impressively, ”I have an exact copy of the correspondence on both sides, and no one could ever a.s.sume any statement or admissions that were not there.”
”I presumed that, of course,” said Scott, calmly.
”Now, my young friend, let us get down to the actual knowledge which you have of the facts. You are, I suppose, aware that there was a missing will involved in the case?”
”I am; and that one or two of your letters purported to show that the missing will was destroyed by Hugh Mainwaring.”
”Did I make any such allegation?”
”Not directly; but your allusions and references would be clear to any one having a knowledge of the English statutes.”
Hobson started, and inquired quickly, ”Are you familiar with English law?”
”I made myself familiar with your citations and references in this case.”
”I see; you have indeed made a study of the case. Well, Mr. Scott, permit me to say that I accused Hugh Mainwaring of nothing which he had not previously confessed to me himself. Have you any knowledge concerning that will,--its terms or conditions, or the names of the testator or beneficiaries?”
”There was nothing in the correspondence to give any clue to those particulars. I could only gather that Hugh Mainwaring had defrauded others and enriched himself by destroying this will.”
Hobson looked relieved. ”Without doubt, he did; but allow me to call your attention to one point, Mr. Scott. You see how little actual knowledge you have of this affair. There are others--Mrs.
LaGrange, for instance, and the mysterious individual whom she heard conversing with Mr. Mainwaring on the night of the murder,--all of whom know as much or more than you; and while this meagre knowledge of the case might perhaps have been sufficient to bring to bear upon Mainwaring himself, personally, it would have little or no weight with those with whom we would now have to deal. You know nothing of the terms of the will, or of the persons named as beneficiaries, whom, consequently, Hugh Mainwaring defrauded. You have no proof that he destroyed the will. In fact, my dear young friend, you could produce no proof that such a doc.u.ment ever existed at all!”