Volume I Part 24 (1/2)
George looked at her in surprise. Her little face was quivering under the suppressed energy of what she was going to say.
”No!--do you?”
”Yes!--I know all about it. I said to my maid last night--I hope, George, you won't mind, but you know Grier has been an age with me, and knows all my secrets--I told her she must make friends with your mother's maid, and see what she could find out. I felt we _must_, in self-defence. And of course Grier got it all out of Justine. I knew she would! Justine is a little fool; and she doesn't mean to stay much longer with Lady Tressady, so she didn't mind speaking. It is exactly as I supposed! Lady Tressady didn't begin speculating for herself at all--but for--somebody--else! Do you remember that absurd-looking singer who gave a 'musical sketch' one day that your mother gave a party in Eccleston Square--in February?”
She looked at him with eagerness, an ugly, half-shrinking innuendo in her expression.
George had suddenly moved away, and was sitting now some little distance from his wife, his eyes bent on the ground. However, at her question he made a sign of a.s.sent.
”You do remember? Well,” said Letty, triumphantly, ”it is he who is at the bottom of it all. I _knew_ there must be somebody. It appears that he has been getting money out of her for years--that he used to come and spend hours, when she had that little house in Bruton Street, when you were away--I don't believe you ever heard of it--flattering her, and toadying her, paying her compliments on her dress and her appearance, fetching and carrying for her--and of course living upon her! He used to arrange all her parties. Justine says that he used even to make her order all his favourite wines--_such_ bills as there used to be for wine! He has a wife and children somewhere, and of course the whole family lived upon your mother. It was he made her begin speculating. Justine says he has lost all he ever had himself that way, and your mother couldn't, in fact, '_lend'_ him”--Letty laughed scornfully--”money fast enough. It was he brought her across that odious creature Shapetsky--isn't that his name? And that's the whole story. If there have been any gains, he has made off with them--leaving her, of course, to get out of the rest.
Justine says that for months there was nothing but business, as she calls it, talked in the house--and she knew, for she used to help wait at dinner. And such a crew of people as used to be about the place!”
She looked at him, struck at last by his silence and his att.i.tude, or pausing for some comment, some appreciation of her cleverness in ferreting it all out.
But he did not speak, and she was puzzled. The angry triumph in her eyes faltered. She put out her hand and touched him on the arm.
”What is it, George? I thought--it would be more satisfactory to us both to know the truth.”
He looked up quickly.
”And all this your maid got out of Justine? You asked her?”
She was struck, offended, by his expression. It was so cool and strange--even, she could have imagined, contemptuous.
”Yes, I did,” she said pa.s.sionately. ”I thought I was quite justified. We must protect ourselves.”
He was silent again.
”I think,” he said at last, drily, she watching him--”I think we will keep Justine and Grier out of it, if you please.”
She took her work, and laid it down again, her mouth trembling.
”So you had rather be deceived?”
”I had rather be deceived than listen behind doors,” he said, beginning in a light tone, which, however, pa.s.sed immediately into one of bitterness. ”Besides, there is nothing new. For people like my mother there is always some adventurer or adventuress in the background--there always used to be in old days. She never meant any serious harm; she was first plundered, then we. My father used to be for ever turning some impostor or other out of doors. Now I suppose it is my turn.”
This time it was Letty who kept silence. Her needle pa.s.sed rapidly to and fro. George glanced at her queerly. Then he rose and came to stand near her, leaning against the tree.
”You know, Letty, we shall have to pay that money,” he said suddenly, pulling at his moustache.
Letty made an exclamation under her breath, but went on working faster than before.
He slipped down to the moss beside her, and caught her hand.
”Are you angry with me?”
”If you insult me by accusing me of listening behind doors you can't wonder,” said Letty, s.n.a.t.c.hing her hand away, her breast heaving.
He felt a bitter inclination to laugh, but he restrained it, and did his best to make peace. In the midst of his propitiations Letty turned upon him.
”Of course, I know you think I did it all for selfishness,” she said, half crying, ”because I want new furniture and new dresses. I don't; I want to protect you from being--being--plundered like this. How can you do what you ought as a member of Parliament? how can we ever keep ourselves out of debt if--if--? How _can_ you pay this money?” she wound up, her eyes flaming.
”Well, you know,” he said, hesitating--”you know I suggested yesterday we should sell some land to do up the house. I am afraid we must sell the laud, and pay this scoundrel--a proportion, at all events. Of course, what I should _like_ to do would be to put him--and the other--to instant death, with appropriate tortures! Short of that, I can only take the matter out of my mother's hands, get a sharp solicitor on my side to match _his_ rascal, and make the best bargain I can.”