Part 7 (1/2)

The words were those that Lena herself had used earlier in the day!

Could it be that the Major had overheard them, or was it a case of mere coincidence?

”Come and sit down and let us have a chat,” the stranger went on, beckoning Laurence to a vacant arm-chair.

”Major Jones-Farnell, I suppose?” was Carrington's first remark.

”Yes and no,” replied the other; ”but that is neither here nor there.”

”Indeed! And I believe you wished to see me,” said Laurence coldly.

”I do,” said the Major, ”but pray make yourself at home, as far as it is possible, in such 'diggings' as mine. Here are some cigars that I think you will find palatable. Perhaps you will join me in a smoke. There's nothing so conducive to pleasant conversation as nicotine.” And the master of Durley Dene pushed forward a small box of long cigars, each wrapped in embossed silver paper.

Now, had Laurence been ushered into the presence of some typical scoundrel who held a revolver in his hand while conversing, and offered to murder the young visitor if he actually carried out his threat of consulting the police, he would not have been in the least surprised, but he had little expected what he now found.

The room in which he sat was elegantly furnished in decidedly Oriental style. A magnificent Indian carpet, into which one's feet sank an inch or so, occupied the best part of the floor, while mats covered the bare corners of the room. Indian tapestry of fine workmans.h.i.+p hung from the walls, and many of the small chairs and bric-a-brac ornaments were of Oriental manufacture. A hookah, with ivory mouthpiece, and brilliantly worked coiling pipe, stood upon a table at Major Farnell's right hand.

That gentleman's feet were encased in Persian bed slippers. In fact, little of the furniture but the arm-chairs was of a kind one would expect to find in England. Even the prevailing odour of the room was that of incense such as one reads of as pervading Eastern bazaars and temples. Certainly the Major had a good idea of comfort.

And as Laurence noted these points in connection with the room he realised how they agreed with the supposition of his that the Squire's enemy was a ”black” man or woman. But the Major gave him little time for thought.

”Oh, you must take a weed,” said Farnell, when Laurence had at first refused the other's hospitality.

Fearing to displease, Carrington did so, carefully selecting one of the cigars from the bottom of the box. Why he did this will be quite evident. He considered it possible that some of them might be drugged.

However, as the owner himself carelessly chose one of the top layer, it seemed probable that Laurence was over-suspicious. That, however, was no fault. The circ.u.mstances under which he had been brought face to face with the Major were remarkable enough to raise suspicion.

”And so,” said Jones-Farnell, when the two had lighted up, ”and so you thought of sending the police here! May I ask why?”

”I hardly think it necessary to explain to you what I am under the impression you already know,” was the answer.

The Major looked surprised.

”I fear,” he said, ”that your impression is a mere misapprehension.

Truthfully, I have no idea why you should object to my retiring habits in a house which is my own in every respect. I am inclined to think myself a peculiarly desirable kind of neighbour. I am sure no noise caused by me or my servant has ever disturbed you. I keep no fowls to wake you up by their crowing at daybreak. Never has either my servant or myself trespa.s.sed upon your grounds. I don't keep a dog----”

”Pardon me, but why, then, did your servant purchase a dog-whip only last night?”

And when Laurence made this quiet and apparently ordinary remark, he noticed a sudden flush rise to his host's brow. For a moment the Major did not reply. Then, affecting an off-hand manner, he said--

”Oh, that was for my Persian cat, Teddy.”

But Laurence knew that he lied!

CHAPTER XII

THE MAJOR REVEALS HIS SECRET

”My dear sir,” Laurence resumed, after a short pause, ”you are well aware that your remarks are idle ones. I have no cause for complaint on any such grounds as those you mention. As a neighbour you are the most desirable that man could have, except----”