Part 84 (1/2)
”Things going wrong with him!--No! He could not be so easy under it,”
was his mental conclusion. ”It is all right, depend upon it,” he added aloud to his son.
”I think it must be, sir,” was the reply of Isaac Hastings.
CHAPTER XV.
A NIGHTMARE FOR THE RECTOR OF ALL SOULS'.
The Reverend Mr. Hastings had audibly expressed a wish never again to be left in the responsible position of trustee, and the Reverend Mr.
Hastings echoed it a second time as he ascended a gig which was to convey him to Binham. A vestry meeting at All Souls' had been called for that evening at seven o'clock; but something arose during the day connected with the trust, and at four Mr. Hastings set off in a gig to see Brierly, the late agent to the Chisholm property. ”I'll be back by seven if I can, Smith,” he observed to his clerk. ”If not, the meeting must commence without me.”
The way to Binham lay through shady lanes and unfrequented roads: unfrequented as compared with those where the traffic is great. It was a small place about six miles' distance from Prior's Ash, and the Rector enjoyed the drive. The day was warm and fine as the previous one had been--when you saw Maria G.o.dolphin walking through the hayfield. Shady trees in some parts met overhead, the limes gave forth their sweet perfume, the heavy crops of gra.s.s gladdened the Rector's eye, some still uncut, some in process of being converted into hay by labourers, who looked off to salute the well-known clergyman as he drove past.
”I might have brought Rose, after all,” he soliloquized. ”She would have had a pleasant drive. Only she would have been half an hour getting ready.”
He found Mr. Brierly at home, and their little matter of business was soon concluded. Mr. Hastings had other places to call at in the town: he had always plenty of people to see when he went to Binham, for he knew every one in it.
”I wish you would take something,” said the agent.
”I can't stay,” replied Mr. Hastings. ”I shall find old Mrs. Chisholm at tea, and can take a cup with her, standing. That won't lose time. You have not heard from Harknar?”
”No: not directly. His brother thinks he will be home next week.”
”The sooner the better. I want the affair settled, and the money placed out.”
He held out his hand as he spoke. Mr. Brierly, who, in days long gone by, when they were both boys together, had been an old school-fellow of the Rector's, put his own into it. But he did not withdraw it: he appeared to be in some hesitation.
”Mr. Hastings, excuse me,” he said, presently, speaking slowly, ”have you kept the money, which I paid over to you, in your own possession?”
”Of course not. I took it the same night to the Bank.”
”Ay. I guessed you would. Is it safe?” he added, lowering his voice.
”_Safe!_” echoed Mr. Hastings.
”I will tell you why I speak. Rutt the lawyer, over at your place, was here this afternoon, and in the course of conversation he dropped a hint that something was wrong at G.o.dolphins'. It was not known yet, he said, but it would be known very soon.”
Mr. Hastings paused. ”Did he state his grounds for the a.s.sertion?”
”No. From what I could gather, it appeared that he spoke from some vague rumour that was going about.”
”I think I can explain it,” said Mr. Hastings. ”A packet of deeds belonging to one of their clients has been lost--has disappeared at least in some unaccountable manner; and this, I expect, must have given rise to the rumour. But the loss of twenty such packets, all to be made good, would not shake the solvency of G.o.dolphin, Crosse, and G.o.dolphin.”
”That must be it, then! What simpletons people are! swallowing any absurd rumour that gets afloat; converting a molehill into a mountain! I thought it strange--for a stable old house like the G.o.dolphins'.”
”Let me recommend you, Brierly, not to mention it further. If such a report got about, it might cause a run upon the Bank. Not but that, so far as I believe, the Bank could stand any run that might be made upon it.”
”I should not have mentioned it at all, except to you,” returned Mr.
Brierly. ”And only to you, because I expected the Chisholms' money was there. Rutt is not a safe man to speak after, at the best of times. I told him I did not believe him. And I did not. Still--if anything were to happen, and I had bottled up the rumour, without giving you a hint of it, I should never cease to blame myself.”