Chapter 24

STARTLING NEWS

Herries brought Maud back to the "Moated Hall," and delivered her into the hands of Mrs. Mountford. The girl recovered herself wonderfully on the journey, but said very little. All the time in the train she sat huddled in her corner of the compartment, and eyed Angus in a most spiteful manner. Her cousin saw the look and wondered what was in her mind. Had he known he might not have pitied her as he did. As it was, he felt truly sorry for the miserable girl. By her own foolishness, she had forfeited a fortune, she had been deserted by the man whom she had striven to take from another woman, and had lost her father by a violent death. Had not Maud troubled her head over the buccaneer's good looks, her father would never have made a second will; he would never have gone to the "Marsh Inn" to meet his death. For all the terrible things that had happened, Maud had only herself to blame. Yet she talked of Fate, and bemoaned herself as the most unfortunate creature in the world. Many people cheat themselves in the same way.

However, Mrs. Mountford saw that she was really getting ill and that her nerves were in a terribly excited state. She, therefore, sent her at once to bed when Herries brought her back, and remained alone in the drawing-room with the young man.

"I know that Maud went to the 'Marsh Inn' in response to an invitation from Se�ora Guzman," she said gravely, "but I did not expect that you would bring her back, Mr. Herries."

"I was there also," he replied, quietly, "I went to meet Mr. Gowrie and found Se�ora Guzman instead. Maud got into trouble."

"With that woman?"

"With Armour, the policeman, who said that Maud had been at Desleigh on the night her father was murdered."

Mrs. Mountford turned pale.

"Surely you do not believe that wild statement, Mr. Herries?"

"I have such good authority, Mrs. Mountford, that I must."

"Whose authority?"

"That of Maud herself."

"Unhappy girl. What has she said?"

"I think you know what she said, Mrs. Mountford, since you also knew that Maud stopped with Mrs. Armour on that night."

"Mrs. Armour is Maud's old nurse," said the ex-governess with emotion, "and Maud went to visit her without my permission."

"Maud said that you helped her."

"No. That is not true. I would not have let Maud out of my sight to pay such a visit, and at so late an hour. She certainly told me that Sir Simon was to meet Captain Kyles at the 'Marsh Inn,' and then bribe him to give her up. She wanted to go to Desleigh and implore her father not to act in this way. I said that she was not to go, but she slipped out of the house and went. I could do nothing save watch for her return and admit her secretly, lest the servants should come to know of her mad visit."

"What did she tell you when she returned?" asked Herries, curiously.

"That she had stopped all night with Mrs. Armour."

"She did not inform you that she had been inside the 'Marsh Inn?'"

"No." Mrs. Mountford closed her eyes in horror, "Impossible!"

"It is true. Maud went there to see her father."

"Mr. Herries," Mrs. Mountford rose and grasped the young man's arm, "I cannot believe that Maud has anything to do with this crime."

"Why should you believe it?" said Herries, astonished at the emotion displayed in her usually solemn face.

"Tell me what you know, and I'll explain."

Herries hesitated, but reflecting that Mrs. Mountford could do no harm, and that it was better to have her for a friend than an enemy at this juncture, he told all that had taken place at the inn, as he had heard it from Maud herself. At the conclusion Mrs. Mountford drew a long breath of relief.

"It is better than I expected," she said, nodding, "I must tell you, Mr. Herries, to explain for the way in which Maud has acted, that she is not quite right in the head."

"Mad!" was the young man's startled exclamation.

"Not exactly mad. She has no moral principles, and if she does not get her own way, will not hesitate even at a crime to get it. Her mother, a frivolous, foolish woman, who came of a decayed family, was the same. Maud at times is not responsible for her actions. Sir Simon was devoted to her, and therefore, after Maud's education was finished, he kept me here, to look after her."

"I noticed that you had great power over Maud."

"The power of a strong mind over a weak one," said Mrs. Mountford in her deep voice, "yet at times Maud is too difficult and cunning even for me to manage. You know how she escaped and went to Desleigh. I dreaded lest she should meet her father, for then----" Mrs. Mountford hesitated.

"Would she have murdered him?"

"Not deliberately. But she would have fallen into a frenzy of rage and the first weapon to hand would have been used by her. In these rages, she goes, what the Norsemen called baresark, and stops at nothing to gain her ends. She loves this Captain Kyles so much that she would do anything to become his wife. You know that she was quite ready to sacrifice you, Mr. Herries."

"And Se�ora Guzman also," said the young man, rather startled at what he had heard, "since she accuses her wrongfully."

Mrs. Mountford looked gravely at him.

"I believe that Captain Kyles killed Sir Simon," she said decisively, "and Se�ora Guzman may not be so innocent as you imagine. The Captain was certainly at the 'Marsh Inn' on that night, since you say Maud saw him looking up at the window wherein Sir Simon had placed his signal. Also Se�ora Guzman was in the neighbourhood and had that policeman kidnapped."

"All these things look suspicious," assented Herries, "yet, since Kyles was willing to give up Maud, for whom he had no affection, and since Sir Simon was willing to pay the price, I do not see the motive for the commission of the crime."

"It is strange. What does Captain Kyles say himself?"

"I have not seen him yet. To-morrow, however, I am going on board the 'Tarabacca,' which lies off Tarhaven quay, out-stream, I believe. Then Kyles will explain. And Maud is to come with me."

Mrs. Mountford started to her feet.

"Impossible. If she meets Captain Kyles face to face, I don't know what would happen."

"I'll look after her," said Herries, who was determined that Maud should be brought face to face with her lover, so that everything should be cleared up in a proper manner. "I must know the truth, as I want to enter into possession of my property. Kyles evidently can tell me who killed my uncle, and I am going to see Ritson, as to getting four thousand pounds to bribe him into speaking the truth."

"He deserves no money after the way in which he has treated Maud."

"I quite agree with you," responded Herries dryly, "but beggars cannot be choosers. Apparently Kyles is the only man who can solve the mystery, so he must be paid."

"He will have to acknowledge himself guilty then," said Mrs. Mountford obstinately, "in which case he should be arrested."

"Certainly. And I may tell you that I intend to give information to Inspector Trent as to my engagement to see Kyles on board the yacht. He will come later in the evening, for I believe that the explanation will be given to-morrow night. If Kyles is guilty he will be arrested. But he won't confess unless he gets the money, so I must enlist the services of Ritson to procure it, and take it on board. I can get it back if your surmise is correct."

"Well," said Mrs. Mountford coldly, "I presume that will be the best way to settle the matter. And Mr. Herries," she added, giving him her hand, "I may tell you that I am glad you have got the money. Were Maud in possession, I would lose my influence over her, and then God knows what would happen to so feather-headed a creature. She would be surrounded by flatterers and sycophants, and would waste the money in excesses, ending probably in an insane asylum."

"But she is not mad."

"I tell you she is at times," said Mrs. Mountford impatiently. "The germs of insanity are in her, and it only needs great emotions to develop them into rank lunacy. See what she was prepared to do, in order to get Captain Kyles for a husband. She is not safe, she never will be safe; and Sir Simon did not want her to marry. No, Mr. Herries, you get this money and make good use of it. Maud and myself will go abroad and live on her thousand a year."

"You must let me add to that," said Herries shaking her hand in a hearty manner. "I believe that you are a good woman."

"I have had great troubles," said Mrs. Mountford, "and troubles make us think of others. When you are in possession of that large income, Mr. Herries, don't forget the poor and needy. Let your troubles aid you to remember the troubles of others."

"You can depend upon that," said Herries, and took his leave feeling a profound respect for Mrs. Mountford.

He was not so surprised as he might have been, on hearing of Maud's weakness. Several times, when he was courting her in Edinburgh, he had noticed how strange her manner was, and how careless she seemed to be of other people's feelings. But then he was blinded with what he took for love, and had not seen clearly. Now he could judge dispassionately, and felt certain,--apart from any personal benefit,--that the best thing that could have happened to Maud was the loss of the money. To weight so frail and fickle a creature with gold would have been to sink her in the ocean of life. He determined to allow Mrs. Mountford another thousand a year, for looking after her, and then the ex-governess could take the poor girl away to some lonely place, where she could quietly live out the rest of her life. In his own mind, Herries, with a sudden memory of a striking book, compared her to Lady Audley, and recalled how that celebrated heroine had been placed in seclusion as dangerous. Maud was just such another childish, pretty, cunning, dangerous woman, as that conceived by Miss Braddon.

Having made up his mind how to act towards his unfortunate cousin, Herries returned home, and told Browne and Elspeth all that had occurred. Both of them were much astonished, and were divided as to who was guilty of the crime. Elspeth fancied that Se�ora Guzman was guilty. Browne held that Kyles was the criminal. Herries shook his head.

"There's been so many mistakes over this case," he said, "that I am afraid to give an opinion. It might have been Mrs. Narby, for all we know."

"Mrs. Narby," ejaculated Elspeth, with a gasp. "Mrs. Narby," echoed the doctor, his face growing redder than ever.

Herries shrugged his shoulders.

"She looks the kind of woman who would kill anyone, especially for money."

"My father knows Mrs. Narby better than anyone else," said Elspeth.

"I should think you knew her well enough, my dear."

"The worst side of her, perhaps."

"Has she any better side? If so, I should be glad to know it. But I wish I knew where your father is at present. Se�ora Guzman is aware of his hiding-place, but she won't tell."

"Why is he hiding?" asked Browne, very directly. "Really, I don't know. He can't be in any trouble, or he would have said so in his letter."

"The letter that was posted at Tarhaven," said Elspeth, who had risen from the table, and was thinking deeply. "Angus, I should not be surprised to learn that my father was on board the yacht."

"By Jove, it's very probable, Elspeth. Kyles was ashore this morning according to Sweetlips, so Gowrie probably gave him the letter to post. That was why it did not bear the Desleigh post mark. But why should he have boarded the yacht."

No one could answer this very pertinent question, but Browne ventured an explanation.

"I believe that all this is a conspiracy to get that four thousand pounds. I wouldn't pay Kyles a cent, Herries."

"Then how am I to clear up the mystery of the murder, and get the money, Browne? I must make some move, as I can't live here on you all the days of my life. Four thousand pounds is worth paying, if by Kyles' information I can get fifty thousand a year."

"Quite so, but if Kyles is guilty he won't accuse himself."

"Why not? He won't see me ashore, but on the yacht. He can say what he likes and then steam away with the money."

"And you will let him," said Elspeth, indignantly.

"No!" said her husband, putting on his hat, "I'll see Trent to-morrow, and inform him of the proposed meeting. After I get the truth,--whatever it may be,--out of Kyles, Trent can come on board and arrest the guilty person."

"Se�ora Guzman!" said Elspeth.

"Captain Kyles," ventured Browne, but not very eagerly.

"It may be one or the other, or neither," retorted Herries, "meanwhile I'm off."

"To see Inspector Trent?" said Elspeth accompanying him to the door.

"No. I won't see him until I have a note saying what time I am to go on board the yacht. I must interview Ritson about the money."

This Herries did, after he had thought well over the position of affairs, which was decidedly perplexing. Ritson gasped when he heard all that Herries knew, and appeared to take the same view as Browne had done.

"I believe that Kyles is guilty," he said, in a profoundly certain tone, "and that being the case, why pay him four thousand pounds?"

"He won't confess anything until he gets the money," insisted the client, "and if he is guilty Trent can arrest him. Then we can get the money back. But will you advance me the cash, Ritson?"

"Yes," said the lawyer without the slightest hesitation. "You have a good enough security."

"Be careful, Ritson," warned Herries gravely, "I am not yet in possession of the fifty thousand a year, and unless I learn the absolute truth, I never may be."

"You'll learn the truth sooner or later. At all events, to get to the bottom of the thing, I'm willing to risk four thousand on the matter. It's a sprat to catch a mackerel. But you must make it worth my while, risking this much, Herries."

"Naturally," said the other, "I never expected you to oblige me without asking a percentage. What do you want?"

"I must think it over," said Ritson, rubbing his hands, "but you won't find me too expensive. I wish to keep you as a client."

"That you certainly will," said Herries, "as you have been most kind during all these troubles. Good-bye. I'll see you to-morrow. Make your arrangements and have the money,--in gold of course."

"Humph. Rather a large sum in gold. Better take a cheque."

"My dear man, _I_ don't take the money. Kyles won't be satisfied with a cheque which may be stopped."

"Bank notes then?"

"Same objection applies. Kyles is a wary man, and will accept nothing but gold."

"Well," sighed Ritson, "we must see what we can do. By the way, are you certain that Kyles is guilty?"

"I am not, but you are."

"I'm changing my mind, since you tell me that your father-in-law is on board the yacht."

"I only think that he is on board."

"Then if he is perhaps he has fled."

"Fled?" Herries, somewhat startled, returned from the door.

"To escape justice. I shouldn't wonder," added Ritson playing with a pen, "to learn that Gowrie was the guilty person."

Herries turned red and hot at the thought of the disgrace to his wife.

"All the more reason that we should see Kyles on the yacht and pay him the four thousand. He can take Gowrie to South America. This puts a different complexion on the matter, Ritson. I shan't tell Trent to come on board now."

Herries, having thus made up his mind, went away. But Ritson determined, when he learned the hour of the meeting with Kyles, to tell the Inspector. The lawyer knew that if Gowrie was guilty the truth would have to be made public in order that Herries should get the fortune, and, as he intended to make a good bargain for the loan of the four thousand, he did not intend to let any sentimental business spoil his chance of getting back the money and interest. If Gowrie was guilty, he would be arrested by Trent and taken ashore; Mr. and Mrs. Herries would just have to put up with the disgrace. "Fifty thousand a year is worth a trifle of mud," thought Ritson.

Meanwhile Herries, quite unaware of Ritson's proposed treachery, passed a very bad night. From the flight, as he thought it was, of Gowrie, he really began to believe that the old scamp was the guilty person after all. Since he had condescended to robbery for a few shillings, he probably would not mind throat-cutting for so large a sum as two thousand pounds. Angus did not tell Elspeth his idea of the old man's guilt, and although she saw that he had something on his mind, she could not learn what it was. That her father might have done the horrible deed, never entered her mind.

All the next day Herries waited to hear from Kyles. He soon found out that the "Tarabacca" was anchored some distance away from the shore,--about a quarter of a mile, in fact, and went down to the end of the pier to look at her through a glass. She seemed a very pretty little craft of the piratical order. Herries was half minded to take a boat and board her, but on second thoughts he determined not to be so rash. While he was watching he saw a launch put off, and saw also that there was a lady in it. Thinking that this was Se�ora Guzman, he waited, and waved his hand. As the boat drew near the pier she recognised him, and made the sailors row longside. Herries went down the steps, and she gave him a letter.

"I can't stop to talk, Mr. Herries," she said quickly, fearing apparently to be asked unnecessary questions. "Read the letter."

While the launch steamed back to the yacht, Herries read the note and found that he was expected on board that night at eight o'clock. At once he returned to the town, and seeing Ritson, arranged about the money, which the lawyer was expecting from town by the five o'clock train. Then Herries gave the time and place for the meeting and went home again, to await the hour. Ritson put on his hat, and repaired to the station. There he remained until the money came to hand in charge of a Bank of England messenger, and he saw that it was taken to his office. After that the lawyer went to see Trent at the police station, and arrange about the arrest of Michael Gowrie.

He found Trent in a great state of agitation with a long telegram in his hand. He fairly rushed at the lawyer.

"I am glad to see you," said he. "You were Sir Simon's solicitor, so you have the right to know first."

"Know what?"

"That a man presented one of the missing notes. Before he could be arrested he slipped away, and the police are hunting for him. He was,--he was," said the Inspector solemnly, "Pope Narby."