Part 30 (1/2)
Cool though he was, however, the incident had disturbed hi co of his past? He saw in this the beginning of the end
Was it with design, too, that throughout breakfast Chandler should so persistently keep dragging round the conversation to the year 1868? It looked like it Nor was there any , either, the constraint in the manner of others Well, if they intended that sort of annoyance they should learn that they ht just as well spare the he went down to the office A few Court cases had to be disposed of, during which froent, who bore hiallows on his blotting pad Darrell was absent, having returned to the Main Carave?” said Mr Shaston, when the court had risen, leading the way into his private office ”Sit down, please There is a matter of very serious moment on which I should like a little conversation with you Perhaps it will save a great deal of explanation, and beating around the bush, if we come to the point at once In a word, _this_ has come under my notice--no matter how--and if you have any explanation to offer I shall be glad to hear it”
”This” being the file of the _Bryonville Sentinel_ open at the report of the Stillwell's Flat case Roden took it, and looked at it hard and earnestly--his own portrait, lifelike at the present day, the sensational headlines, the equivocal verdict, the acquittal
This, then, was how the lanced at the paper he recalled old Dr Simpson's hobby That kindly-natured old er to harm him It was Lambert who had unearthed this, Lao! and now here, in another hemisphere thousands and thousands ofup once
”Well?” said Shaston, as he handed it back
”I have no explanation to offer”
”Do I understand then that you admit your identity with the--er--the person, whose trial is here reported?”
”You will please understand that I ad I do not feel in the least called upon to make either admissions or explanations I will, however, just add this remark The person, whoever he may be, whose trial is there reported, appears to have been acquitted That e”
”All very well as a legal fiction, Mr Musgrave,” was the icy rejoinder; ”but you and I know perfectly that the manner of a person's acquittal makes all the difference in the world”
”Then, if a man is once under suspicion, he is always under it, no matter how completely or publicly he may have been cleared? Is that your deliberate opinion, Mr Shaston?”
The other turned white with rage as he glared blankly and furiously at his in of purpose underlying his rejoinder Yet the latter contained about as hard a hit as could have been dealt, for ruer days had been badly h exonerated, on inquiry, froence, the circuainst his record,his advancement in the Service
As a matter of fact, however, the shaft was an accidental one, Roden being entirely unaware of such an occurrence
”Thatan explanation,” said Shaston as soon as he had recovered himself; ”for I have considered theit to the notice of the Governn of your own accord, and thus avoid unnecessary scandal and publicity In that case I shall be willing to stretch a point”
”I shall certainly do nothing of the kind, Mr Shaston And allow reat respect, to recommend you to consider the matter yet ards myself will be taken at your own serious risk The sa others”
”As you refuse explanation, I may tell you, sir, that I have no doubt whatever as to your identity with the Roden Musgrave mentioned here
Moreover, I a a strong memorial on the subject I have even reason to fear that you may become the object of a most unpleasant popular demonstration All this means scandal to the Service, and serious detri of my establish thea h painful duty”
”We are alone, I believe, Mr Shaston,” answered Roden, and there was a look in his face which the other had never seen there before and did not half like now ”That being so, we may as well talk with a little lance at that report; and granting, for the sake of argument, that your theory as to my identity is correct, to say whether you think it likely that the iven is the , let alone cowed by such a threat as that of a 'popular demonstration,' on the part of the runaindlers and fraudulent bankrupts and forgers and ex-convicts who forhly e? Do you really share such an opinion?”
The other stared He simply did not knohat answer to ht be as well, if I rave responsibility of branding th of a report in so authoritative an organ as the _Bryonville Sentinel_, to ascertain first, that there is such a place as Stillwell's Flat; secondly, that a murder actually was committed there; and, lastly, that I ever was there in my life And now, have I your permission to return to my work, sir?”
”You have, sir It's only fair to tell you that my opinion and the course of action I have decided upon in consequence of this--er--of this revelation, reed”
But, after his subordinate had withdrawn, Shaston felt horribly uncoht ho should turn out a fiasco after all?
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN