Chapter 22

ANOTHER MYSTERY

As guessed by Captain Kyles, Herries' visit to Pierside had been unproductive of result. On arriving there, he found that the yacht had left for an unknown destination, and returned to Tarhaven quite certain that Se�ora Guzman, and the buccaneer had left England for good. This was a great disappointment to the young man, as he did not see how the mystery of Sir Simon's death was to be explained without getting the evidence of the Mexican lady. He came back to tell Browne and to consult with Sweetlips Kind.

The doctor recommended patience, and a visit to the "Marsh Inn," so as to see what Gowrie was doing. Browne quite believed that the pair connected with the "Tarabacca" knew much; but he felt certain that Gowrie knew more than he chose to tell. Herries and Browne argued over the matter until a late hour, and resumed their talk, when they met at breakfast. Then Browne departed to see his patients and Herries went to look for Kind.

But the Cheap-jack was not at the humble little place where he and his wife had put up during the trial since they had left the caravan at Anderfield in Buckinghamshire, and Herries thought that they also had gone, leaving him to his own devices. Perhaps they thought that they had done enough in return for his saving of Mrs. Kind's life, and he could not blame them for looking after their own affairs. For some time Herries contemplated walking to the "Moated Hall," and see what Maud had to say, but, on reflection, he decided to wait for the return of Gowrie from the inn. It might be that something important was transpiring there.

Elspeth met him at the door of the doctor's house when he came back to luncheon, having practically wasted a morning.

"Angus," she said eagerly, "here are two letters,--one is in papa's writing and the other has been written by Sweetlips."

Herries went into the drawing-room and opened the letters. The one from Kind was merely a short intimation that he had met Captain Kyles early that very morning, and from certain facts which he had learned from him, he had gone to London on business. "I'll be back in a couple of days," ended the note, "and then will call and tell you all about it."

"Good," said Herries, throwing this aside, "then Kyles is still in England."

"And in Tarhaven," said Elspeth, who had been reading over his shoulder, "I should not be at all surprised, Angus, if he had anchored the 'Tarabacca' in this port."

"Nor should I. However we can easily ascertain that fact. Meanwhile let us see what your father has been doing," and he opened the second letter. While he read it, his wife glanced at the envelope, "I see that your father asks me to come to the 'Marsh Inn' this afternoon," said the young man, rapidly reading the few lines, "he has,--so he says,--discovered something important."

"Strange," murmured Elspeth to herself, and taking no notice.

"What is strange?"

"This envelope has not the Desleigh post-mark on it."

Herries examined the envelope in his turn.

"It must have been posted in Tarhaven,--it has that post-mark on it at all events. I expect your father sent it here by hand to be posted."

"No, there is a stamp on the envelope. If papa intended to send it to you by hand, he would not have wasted a stamp."

They both thought this strange, and tried to puzzle out the reason but could arrive at no conclusion.

"I'll ask your father what it means when I see him," said Herries, placing both letters in his pocket. "What train can I catch, Elspeth?"

An examination of the time table showed that he could not get a train to Desleigh for an hour, so meanwhile, Angus ate some luncheon and possessed his soul in patience.

"I don't like your going to the 'Marsh Inn,' after what has occurred, Angus," said Elspeth, uneasily, "Mrs. Narby will make herself disagreeable."

Herries laughed scornfully.

"What does that matter? I am not afraid of Mrs. Narby, or of a dozen like her. Besides, I have an idea of how to tame that virago."

"In what way?"

"I'll tell her that I intend to bring an action against her for telling lies about me."

"But can you?"

"Perhaps I cannot, but the threat will serve to keep Mrs. Narby's tongue quiet. By the way, Elspeth, I must look up Armour, while I am at Desleigh, and ask if he has moved in the matter of his kidnapping by the Tarabacca sailors."

"Oh," said Elspeth suddenly, "I knew that I had something to tell you, Angus. Dr. Browne's housekeeper has lived in Tarhaven for the last twenty years and knows everyone."

"Really, dear," the young man laughed, "that information doesn't give me any pleasure."

"No, but listen. She was a servant at your uncle's place for some time, and says that Mrs. Armour was a servant there also."

Herries shrugged his shoulders.

"That is quite possible. All the same, I don't think that it matters much. What do you mean?"

"Well," said Mrs. Herries thoughtfully, "Mrs. Armour knows Maud very well,--she was her nurse for some time, I believe. I wonder if Armour was kidnapped because his wife had been Maud's nurse."

"My dear," Herries took her in his arms, "you see a bird in every bush, as this case has got on your nerves. I don't see the least connection between Armour's kidnapping, and Mrs. Armour's early employment. I agree with Se�ora Guzman, and believe that the kidnapping was a political affair."

"In what way?"

"Well, you see, Se�ora Guzman is the daughter of the ex-President of Indiana, and with Kyles, as the commander of their tin-pot navy, she came home to get war-ships, so as to regain possession of the Republic if possible. Naturally the new President not wanting a civil war, must have sent emissaries to thwart this scheme. Sir Simon was mixed up in it, and possibly these emissaries would keep an eye on him. One might have followed him to the 'Marsh Inn,' and Kyles, who was no doubt going to meet Sir Simon there on political business, must have told his sailors to get rid of any suspicious-looking person from Indiana. Consequently, Armour, by taking up his position near the inn, laid himself open to suspicion, and was promptly removed."

"It might be so, but then you know the meeting was to bribe Captain Kyles to leave Maud."

"Kyles would not give his sailors the true reason," replied Herries, leaving the table. "Good-bye, Elspeth, I'm off."

"Do take care of yourself, darling," she pleaded. "Of course," he kissed her, "but you need have no fear; the luck has changed since our marriage."

Elspeth felt that this was so, as she stood watching him from the window. Assuredly, her heart was light enough, and she had no premonition of evil. Perhaps after all, their separate bad lucks had combined to form one good one, as Herries fancifully imagined. Yet she dreaded to think that anything should happen to destroy the new and wonderful life which was now hers, and went to her room to pray earnestly that Angus might be successful in his mission.

But what was his mission? Angus did not know very well himself as the train steamed towards Desleigh. It seemed to him that he could do very little towards elucidating the mystery of his uncle's death. He was ignorant of all things, since he had been asleep during the commission of the crime. But Gowrie might have learned something, and Herries privately suspected that Gowrie had been wide awake all that eventful night. Also, since he had been wandering over the house, he might have chanced on some suspicious circumstances. At all events, the old man had evidently found out something, when he sent so peremptory a note. It was, therefore, with great surprise that Herries, on arriving at the inn, was met with the news that Gowrie was not within.

"Where is he?" he asked the new maid, Alice, who gave him this information in the well-known tap-room.

"I can't tell you, sir," she replied, timidly. "He went out last night just before dinner, and never came back."

"Strange," Herries recalled the omitted Desleigh post-mark, and felt uneasy. "Can I see Mrs. Narby?"

"Missus have gone to London to see her son."

"And the landlord?"

"He's in London, too, seeing about selling the inn," said Alice, glibly.

"Selling the inn?"

"Yes, sir. Master and Missus are going to America."

"The deuce they are," murmured Herries rather perplexed, "Now what does that mean? I wish I could find Gowrie. I wonder if he has been kidnapped also," he added smiling, and little knew how near he was to the truth. "Well, I'd better utilize the time at my disposal and call on Armour," and he turned away.

The next words of Alice arrested him.

"Please, sir, won't you see the lady, sir? She's in the parlour waiting for you."

"A lady. Who is she?"

"Oh, the most beautiful lady you ever set eyes on. She came here an hour ago, and said that she wanted to see you, sir."

"Mr. Herries?"

"Yes, sir, and I know you're Mr. Herries, 'cos I saw you when you was arrested for----"

"There--there," interrupted the young man wincing, for he did not like to be reminded of that ugly episode. "Take me to the lady. I expect it's Se�ora Guzman, or Maud."

The stuffy parlour looked a duller apartment than ever as Herries opened the door and stepped in. He half expected to see Maud, but instead faced a tall lady with the look of a queen, who rose and smiled as he entered. From the description given by Kind, Angus had no doubt but what this was the daughter of the Indiana ex-president.

"How do you do, Mr. Herries?" she said in excellent English. "You are surprised to meet me here, instead of your father-in-law."

"What, you know----?"

"I know that Mr. Gowrie wrote you a letter asking you to come to this place," said Se�ora Guzman composedly.

"Then you know where he is?"

"I do."

"Can you tell me----?"

"Not at present," she interrupted, "but later you shall know everything, Mr. Herries."

"About the murder?" he asked looking at her in a penetrating manner, and trying to read her thoughts.

"Certainly. The time is coming, when all that is mysterious will be made plain to you. But," added Donna Maria with emphasis, "you will have to pay for your knowledge."

"Ah!" Herries was quite cool, "I thought the element of money would come into the matter. And how much?"

"Say, four thousand pounds."

Herries laughed.

"My dear lady, I don't possess as many pence."

"Not at present, but you will, when certain information is given to you. I have read the papers, Mr. Herries, and I know that you inherit fifty thousand a year, on certain conditions."

"Ah, but those conditions were not mentioned in the newspapers."

"Quite so," rejoined Se�ora Guzman, resuming her seat, "but we learned the conditions from another person."

"We?"

"Myself and Captain Kyles."

"I have no wish," said Herries slowly, "to ask impertinent questions, madame, but I should like to know if you and Captain Kyles are in partnership?"

Se�ora Guzman laughed in her turn.

"You might put it that way," she said, resting her elbow on the shaky round table, and her chin on the back of her locked fingers. "Captain Kyles and myself intend to make our fortunes, and then marry."

"But Maud----"

"Maud," she interrupted fiercely, "don't talk to me of that wicked girl, or I shall lose my temper. I only hope I won't tell her some painful truths, when I see her."

"Are you going to see her?"

"To-day and here," Se�ora Guzman glanced at a bracelet watch, "in a quarter of an hour. I wrote and asked her to come here."

"Why here?"

"Because I want to see her in your presence."

"But you don't mean to say that Maud knows anything of----"

"On the contrary she knows a very great deal, and has acted towards you, Mr. Herries, in a most cruel manner."

"Oh, I know that myself. Certainly there are some excuses, seeing that she has lost a fortune."

"It was in her power to retain it," replied the Mexican lady coolly, "but she _would_ hover round a flame."

"Is the flame Captain Kyles?"

"Why should you think so?"

"Because Maud was engaged to him, and----"

Donna Maria seemed determined to give Herries no chance of finishing a single sentence.

"She _was_ engaged, for certain reasons, but Captain Kyles will marry no one but me."

"Then don't you think that he has acted very badly towards Maud?"

"What do you think yourself?" she asked, irrelevantly.

Herries thought for a few moments.

"I know that my cousin has not acted well," he said hesitatingly, "all the same, this unfortunate engagement with Captain Kyles, and one which you admit, Se�ora, he never intended to fulfil, may have driven her into courses, which in more unemotional moments she would not have entered into."

"I must say, Mr. Herries, that for a wronged man, you are generous."

"I have had much trouble in my life," said Angus simply, "and it has taught me to judge no one."

"I think you are a good man," said Se�ora Guzman, looking at him in a softened manner. "All the better. Captain Kyles and myself will have all the more pleasure in placing you in possession of your property."

"Then you know who killed my uncle?"

"I do not, nor indeed does Captain Kyles. Still we can place certain evidence at your disposal which will go far towards solving the riddle. But the price----"

"I am willing to pay the price."

"Four thousand pounds."

"Five if you wish it," said Herries frankly, "it is a small sum out of fifty thousand a year."

Donna Maria looked at him in silence for a moment. Then her proud lip quivered, and she burst into tears. Herries was quite distressed when she laid her head down on her arms and wept as though her heart would break.

"My dear lady----"

"I feel so ashamed," she sobbed, "making it a condition that you should pay for what ought to be done without money. You must think that I am an adventuress and a bad woman."

"I think nothing," said Herries rather coldly, for he did not know what this scene might mean, "because I know nothing."

"Mr. Herries," she said raising her head and wiping her eyes with a dainty lace handkerchief, "you must not judge me too hardly. I am the daughter of a man who held great power in Indiana, although I am a Mexican by birth. I was brought up to riches and honour, and for years had everything I could wish for. But an enemy of my father's intrigued against him, and in a night he was driven from the Presidential palace. My mother was shot during the revolution, and my father and myself escaped only with our lives, thanks to the bravery of Captain Kyles. We lived in exile for some time, and fortunately escaped in the yacht, which had belonged to the Government."

"The 'Tarabacca?'"

"Yes. It is a splendid yacht. It is all that remains of my father's wealth, for the new Government confiscated everything. But my father learned from an Indian of the whereabouts of a certain treasure in Peru, which had been hidden--according to tradition--by Manco Capac, who first civilised the Peruvian Indians. To get that treasure entails a long and toilsome journey and much money. Leaving my father concealed at Lima, Captain Kyles and myself came to this country to try and raise some money on Indiana bonds. We wanted the sum of two thousand or four thousand pounds, so as to fit out an expedition and get this money,--this treasure. Unfortunately the new Indiana Government had been beforehand, and we found that the bonds were useless. Then an accident introduced us to Sir Simon Tedder, and there was a chance that he might assist us."

"But I understood that you came to buy war-ships?"

"That was the excuse we gave out, and for that reason, we have been haunted by Indiana emissaries, who would take our lives, if it was needful. But we promised Sir Simon a share of the----"

Scarcely had she got this far, when they heard the shrill scream of a woman in the tap-room. Herries sprang from his chair, and opened the door hurriedly. When he and Se�ora Guzman walked hastily into the tap-room, they found Maud Tedder in the grasp of Armour the policeman, who was in plain clothes. Herries flung himself forward, and threw the bulky man to one side.

"How dare you touch a lady?" he said, indignantly.

"A lady," said Armour, who had evidently been drinking, "if she's a lady, let her pay me for having lost my position in the Force through her visit."

"Don't listen to him,--don't listen to him," whispered Maud, pale and trembling and clinging to Herries.

"I've been dismissed the Force," complained Armour in a maundering tone, "and all on account of that there blamed murder. And she," he pointed a stumpy finger at Miss Tedder, "she knows summat about it, she does."

"It's a lie," gasped Maud, shaking from head to foot, while the eyes of Se�ora Guzman lighted up and she took an eager step forward.

"Oh," raved the ex-policeman, while Alice lost her head and flew out of doors shouting for help, "is it a lie that she," he pointed again towards Maud, "that she came to my house, when I was on my rounds and made my wife betray me? On the very night of the murder, she was at my house, and----"

"I came to see my old nurse," gasped Maud.

"Then what were you doing wandering about Desleigh at midnight. I got it out of my missus, I did. And you put them sailors on to me.

"No! No!"

"You did. And I believe," cried Armour, "that you murdered your father your very own self."