Part 46 (2/2)
There was an ominous silence as Ralph Mainwaring rose from the table, broken at last by an elderly gentleman seated at a little distance, who, while apparently an interested listener, had taken no part in the conversation.
”Begging your pardon, Mr. Mainwaring, I would judge the charges which you would prefer against this young man to be unusually serious; may I inquire their nature?”
The words were spoken with the utmost deliberation, but in the calm, even tones there was an implied challenge, which was all that was needed at that instant to fan Ralph Mainwaring's wrath into a flame.
Utterly disregarding a cautionary glance from Mr. Whitney, he turned his monocle upon the speaker, glaring at him in contemptuous silence for a moment.
”You have decidedly the advantage of me, sir, but allow me to say that the person under discussion has not only, with unheard of effrontery, publicly and unblus.h.i.+ngly proclaimed himself as a blackmailer and knave, capable of descending to any perfidy or treachery for the purpose of favoring his own base schemes, but he has also, in his inordinate greed and ambition, unwittingly proved himself by his own statements and conduct to be a villain of the deepest dye; and I will say, furthermore, that if Harold Scott Mainwaring, as he styles himself, ends his days upon the gallows in expiation of the foul murder of Hugh Mainwaring, he will have only himself to thank, for his own words and deeds will have put the noose about his neck.”
Having thus expressed himself, Ralph Mainwaring, without waiting for reply, left the room accompanied by Mr. Whitney. The latter made no comment until they were seated in the carriage and rolling down the avenue; then he remarked, casually,--
”I was surprised, Mr. Mainwaring, that you failed to recognize the gentleman who addressed you as you were leaving the table.”
”His face was somewhat familiar; I have met him, but I cannot recall when or where. I considered his tone decidedly offensive, however, and I proposed, whoever he might be, to give him to understand that I would brook no interference. Do you know him?”
”I have never met him, but I know of him,” the attorney replied, watching his client closely. ”He is the Honorable J. Ponsonby Roget, Q. C., of London. I supposed of course that you knew him.”
”J. Ponsonby Roget, Queen's Counsel? Egad! I have met him, but it was years ago, and he has aged so that I did not recognize him.
Strange!” he added, visibly annoyed. ”What the deuce is he doing in this country?”
”That is just what no one is able to say,” replied the attorney, slowly. ”He is stopping at the Waldorf, with our friends, the English party, but whether as a guest or in a professional capacity, no one has been able to ascertain.”
”Zounds, man! why did you not give me this information earlier?”
”For the good and sufficient reason, Mr. Mainwaring, that I did not learn of the facts myself until within the last two hours. My attention was called to the gentleman as I entered the club. I a.s.sumed, of course, that you knew him, at least by sight, and when he addressed you I supposed for the instant that you were acquaintances.”
”But how came he at the club? None of the party from the Waldorf were with him.”
”He was there as the especial guest of Chief-Justice Parmalee, of the Supreme Court, the gentleman on his left. Judge Parmalee spent much of his life in London, and the two are particular friends.”
”Well, it's done, and can't be undone, and I don't know that I regret it,” Ralph Mainwaring remarked, sullenly. ”If he chooses to identify himself with that side of the case he is at liberty to do so, but he has my opinion of his client gratis.”
Mr. Whitney made no reply, and the drive was concluded in silence.
Meanwhile, Ralph Mainwaring had no sooner left the club than a chorus of exclamations, protests, and running comments arose on all sides.
”Harold Scott Mainwaring the murderer of Hugh Mainwaring! That is carrying this farce beyond all bounds!”
”If he cannot get possession of the property in any other way, he will send the new heir to the gallows, eh?”
”He will attempt it, too; he is desperate,” said one.
”He may make it pretty serious for the young fellow,” said another, thoughtfully. ”You remember, by his own statements he was the last person who saw Hugh Mainwaring alive; in fact, he was in his library within a few moments preceding his death; and after all that has been brought to light, it's not to be supposed that he had any great affection for his uncle.”
”What is this, gentlemen?” said a reporter, briskly, appearing on the scene, note-book in hand. ”Any new developments in the Mainwaring case?”
”Yes, a genuine sensation!” shouted two or three voices.
”Gentlemen, attention a moment!” said a commanding voice outside, and an instant later a tall, well-known form entered.
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