Part 5 (2/2)
At that moment there came Jacob's well-known tap at the door, and he entered, bearing a letter upon a salver.
Trethowen started, and quickly replaced the gla.s.s upon the table. He was confused, and felt ashamed of being caught in the act of self-destruction, although the old man could not have been aware of what the gla.s.s contained.
Without a word he took the letter, and Jacob retired.
Tearing it open impatiently, he eagerly read its contents. It was a purely formal communication from Messrs. Graham and Ratcliff, an eminently respectable legal firm, who, some years before, had transacted his late father's business, and who now expressed a desire that he should call at their offices in Devereux Court, Temple, at noon on the following day, as they wished to have an interview with him on a most important and pressing matter.
He re-read the letter several times; then, without a word escaping his lips, flung the contents of the gla.s.s upon the fire.
The letter puzzled him sorely. He resolved to call at the address given and ascertain the nature of the mysterious business.
It had saved him.
CHAPTER FIVE.
UNDER ST. CLEMENT DANES.
The office was small, dingy, and undusted, with a threadbare carpet that had once been green, long rows of pigeon-holes filled with faded legal papers, and windows so dirt-begrimed that they only admitted a yellow light, which added to the characteristic gloom.
Before a large writing-table sat Mr. Bernard Graham, solicitor and commissioner for oaths, interestedly reading some doc.u.ments which had apparently been taken from a black tin box that was standing open near him. He was a clean-shaven, wizened man of sixty, with scanty white hair, a forehead denoting considerable self-esteem, a pair of small, cold grey eyes, and an aquiline nose, surmounted by pince-nez with tortoisesh.e.l.l frames. Attired in broadcloth of an antiquated cut, he looked exactly what his clients believed him to be--a respectable family solicitor, the surviving partner of the once popular firm of Graham and Ratcliff.
”Hum! the dates correspond,” he was murmuring aloud, as he jotted down some memoranda, after glancing through an affidavit yellow with age.
”There can be no doubt that my surmise is correct; yet the whole affair is the most extraordinary within my experience. I wonder whether there are any minor points that will require clearing up?”
Selecting another doc.u.ment, somewhat larger than the former, he opened it, and readjusting his gla.s.ses, read it through slowly and carefully, breaking off several times to make notes of dates and names therein set forth.
”No,” he exclaimed at last, as he laid the paper aside; ”we must first establish the ident.i.ty, then everything will be straightforward. It all seems remarkably dear.”
Leaning back in his writing chair, his features relaxed into a self-satisfied smile.
”Some one must benefit,” he observed aloud, his face again a.s.suming a thoughtful look. ”There is such a thing as murder through revenge.
Now, I wonder how I should fare if--”
The door suddenly opened, and a clerk appeared bearing a card.
”Show him in,” commanded the solicitor, after glancing at it.
A moment later Hugh Trethowen entered.
Dressed fas.h.i.+onably, with a flower in his coat, he looked spruce and gay. The settled look of despair had given place to a pleasant smile, and as he advanced with elastic tread and greeted the old gentleman in his usual easy, familiar manner, it would have been hard to believe that twelve hours ago he had been on the point of taking his life.
”Well, Graham,” he began, as he put down his hat, and took the chair opposite the solicitor; ”now, what is it you want with me? I've been breathing an atmosphere of debts and duns lately, so, if any of my creditors have been so misguided as to put their claim into your hands, I may as well give you the tip at once that I'm not worth sixpence.”
”Creditors are out of the question, Mr. Hugh,” the old solicitor replied, smiling, and leaning back in his chair.
”I wish they were,” said Hugh fervently. ”Give me a recipe to get rid of them, and I'll try the experiment at all hazards.”
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