CHAPTER IX
'Now, my good creature, whatever you have to say to me, out with it atonce! I don't want to hurry you needlessly; but these are businesshours, and I have other people's affairs to attend to besides yours.'
Addressing Ferrari's wife, with his usual blunt good-humour, in theseterms, Mr. Troy registered the lapse of time by a glance at the watchon his desk, and then waited to hear what his client had to say to him.
'It's something more, sir, about the letter with the thousand-poundnote,' Mrs. Ferrari began. 'I have found out who sent it to me.'
Mr. Troy started. 'This is news indeed!' he said. 'Who sent you theletter?'
'Lord Montbarry sent it, sir.'
It was not easy to take Mr. Troy by surprise. But Mrs. Ferrari threwhim completely off his balance. For a while he could only look at herin silent surprise. 'Nonsense!' he said, as soon as he had recoveredhimself. 'There is some mistake--it can't be!'
'There is no mistake,' Mrs. Ferrari rejoined, in her most positivemanner. 'Two gentlemen from the insurance offices called on me thismorning, to see the letter. They were completely puzzled--especiallywhen they heard of the bank-note inside. But they know who sent theletter. His lordship's doctor in Venice posted it at his lordship'srequest. Go to the gentlemen yourself, sir, if you don't believe me.They were polite enough to ask if I could account for Lord Montbarry'swriting to me and sending me the money. I gave them my opiniondirectly--I said it was like his lordship's kindness.'
'Like his lordship's kindness?' Mr. Troy repeated, in blank amazement.
'Yes, sir! Lord Montbarry knew me, like all the other members of hisfamily, when I was at school on the estate in Ireland. If he couldhave done it, he would have protected my poor dear husband. But he washelpless himself in the hands of my lady and the Baron--and the onlykind thing he could do was to provide for me in my widowhood, like thetrue nobleman he was!'
'A very pretty explanation!' said Mr. Troy. 'What did your visitorsfrom the insurance offices think of it?'
'They asked if I had any proof of my husband's death.'
'And what did you say?'
'I said, "I give you better than proof, gentlemen; I give you mypositive opinion."'
'That satisfied them, of course?'
'They didn't say so in words, sir. They looked at each other--andwished me good-morning.'
'Well, Mrs. Ferrari, unless you have some more extraordinary news forme, I think I shall wish you good-morning too. I can take a note ofyour information (very startling information, I own); and, in theabsence of proof, I can do no more.'
'I can provide you with proof, sir--if that is all you want,' said Mrs.Ferrari, with great dignity. 'I only wish to know, first, whether thelaw justifies me in doing it. You may have seen in the fashionableintelligence of the newspapers, that Lady Montbarry has arrived inLondon, at Newbury's Hotel. I propose to go and see her.'
'The deuce you do! May I ask for what purpose?'
Mrs. Ferrari answered in a mysterious whisper. 'For the purpose ofcatching her in a trap! I shan't send in my name--I shall announcemyself as a person on business, and the first words I say to her willbe these: "I come, my lady, to acknowledge the receipt of the moneysent to Ferrari's widow." Ah! you may well start, Mr. Troy! It almosttakes you off your guard, doesn't it? Make your mind easy, sir; Ishall find the proof that everybody asks me for in her guilty face.Let her only change colour by the shadow of a shade--let her eyes onlydrop for half an instant--I shall discover her! The one thing I wantto know is, does the law permit it?'
'The law permits it,' Mr. Troy answered gravely; 'but whether herladyship will permit it, is quite another question. Have you reallycourage enough, Mrs. Ferrari, to carry out this notable scheme ofyours? You have been described to me, by Miss Lockwood, as rather anervous, timid sort of person--and, if I may trust my own observation,I should say you justify the description.'
'If you had lived in the country, sir, instead of living in London,'Mrs. Ferrari replied, 'you would sometimes have seen even a sheep turnon a dog. I am far from saying that I am a bold woman--quite thereverse. But when I stand in that wretch's presence, and think of mymurdered husband, the one of us two who is likely to be frightened isnot me. I am going there now, sir. You shall hear how it ends. Iwish you good-morning.'
With those brave words the courier's wife gathered her mantle abouther, and walked out of the room.
Mr. Troy smiled--not satirically, but compassionately. 'The littlesimpleton!' he thought to himself. 'If half of what they say of LadyMontbarry is true, Mrs. Ferrari and her trap have but a poor prospectbefore them. I wonder how it will end?'
All Mr. Troy's experience failed to forewarn him of how it did end.