Part 61 (1/2)

Lady Rety whispered to the clerk, and the cook cried instinctively, ”I know that stick! It belongs to the notary.”

”You are both to be sworn,” said Mr. Skinner to the ferryman and the coachman, ”that this is the stick which you found last night.” And, turning to the sheriff, he added, ”I told you so! The matter is as plain as can be.”

”It is clear beyond the possibility of a doubt,” said Lady Rety, seizing the fokosh in her turn. ”I have always seen that stick with Tengelyi; and here are his initials, 'J. T.' It is shocking!”

”I really don't know,” said Rety, with great emotion; ”there are many things against Tengelyi, but the impression on my mind is----”

”But consider, sir!” cried Mr. Skinner; ”only please to consider!

Tengelyi quarrels with Catspaw, and says he'll have his revenge. Catspaw is murdered that very night, and when dying he says that Tengelyi is his murderer. The Jew, who I now believe came merely for the purpose of thieving, hears that Catspaw is asked to give up Tengelyi's papers. The coachman pursues the murderer after the deed. The track is lost for a moment. They find it again, and follow it to the notary's house, whom they see at midnight in his usual dress, covered with dirt and violently agitated. Letters are found in Mr. Catspaw's room addressed to Tengelyi; and, besides, here is the notary's stick! What do you say to that?”

”Nothing!” replied the sheriff, shaking his head; ”but all this cannot convince me. I have known Tengelyi these----”

”Indeed!” said Lady Rety, with a sneer. ”It strikes me that you and the notary are mighty good friends.”

”I am not his friend; but I will never believe him guilty of such a deed.”

”I will furnish you with other proofs!” said Mr. Skinner. ”I will go at once to his house, and examine him and his family.”

”But, sir, have you considered that----” said the sheriff. But his wife interrupted him by telling Skinner to make haste, lest the notary might remove the traces of the crime.

”But Tengelyi is a n.o.bleman!” protested Rety.

”He says he is a n.o.bleman!” put in Lady Rety. ”And it has been decided in the a.s.sembly that he is to be treated as not n.o.ble, until he proves that he is. Go at once!” added she, turning to Skinner, ”for if you were to bring him here, it would create such excitement. After all, he may be innocent.”

The justice and his clerk kissed her hand, and left the room. When they were gone, the sheriff seized his wife's hand, saying, ”Do you really think Tengelyi is capable of such a deed?”

”And why not?” said she, looking her husband full in the face.

”You know Tengelyi's life, you know his character, his----”

”All I know of him is that he is my enemy!” retorted Lady Rety; ”and I shall never forget that, I a.s.sure you!” Saying which she left the room.

Rety's heart shrunk within him when the soul of his wife was thus brought before him in all its native ugliness. He shuddered to think that he had hitherto obeyed the dictates of this heartless woman, and he hastened away to protect the notary from the ill-treatment to which he was convinced Mr. Skinner would subject him.

CHAP. II.

Though ignorant of the suspicion which had been cast upon him, Tengelyi pa.s.sed the night in sorrow and remorse. He was convinced that the deed of blood was done by Viola's hand; and his soul trembled within him as he thought that, instead of preventing the crime, he had actually gone to meet the robber on the banks of the Theiss. He felt degraded and wretched by this strange complicity. After a sleepless night, he rose with the day, and hastened to Vandory, who was still in happy ignorance of what had happened.

”Shocking!” cried the curate, when Tengelyi had finished his narrative of the late events: ”to think that he should be summoned to appear before G.o.d in the very midst of his sins, and without having one moment left for repentance!”

”Shocking, indeed!” said the notary; ”but is not mine the fault? Am I not a partner in this crime? I all but knew that Catspaw had possession of my papers. I ought to have known that Viola could not wrest them from him without taking his life. And what did I do? Instead of preventing the deed, I obeyed the summons of the outlaw. I waited for him, to receive the booty from hands reeking with the blood of his victim!”

”Viola's deed is horrible. I understand your feelings. But, tell me, what could you have done to prevent him?”

”My duty. I ought to have informed against him. I ought to have arrested him.”

”No,” said Vandory. ”How could you think of arresting a man who relies upon your honour? Besides, to arrest Viola, means to deliver him up to the hangman.”