THAT MAINWARING AFFAIR
by
Maynard Barbour
CONTENTS
I THE MAINWARINGS II FAIR OAKS III THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF HUGH MAINWARING IV A TERRIBLE AWAKENING V IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES VI THE INQUEST VII A LITTLE ROYAL VIII THE WEAVING OF THE WEB IX TANGLED THREADS X BEHIND THE SCENES XI SKIRMISHING XII X-RAYS XIII THEORIES, WISE AND OTHERWISE XIV THE EXIT OF SCOTT, THE SECRETARY XV MUTUAL SURPRISES XVI MUTUAL EXPLANATIONS XVII LOVE FINDS A WAY XVIII AN UNFORESEEN FOE XIX MUTUAL RECOGNITIONS XX OPENING FIRE XXI THE LAST THROW XXII SECESSION IN THE RANKS XXIII FLOTSAM AND JETSAM XXIV BETWEEN THE ACTS XXV RUN TO COVER XXVI MAINWARING VS. MAINWARING XXVII THE SILENT WITNESS
CHAPTER I
THE MAINWARINGS
The fierce sunlight of a sultry afternoon in the early part of Julyforced its way through every crevice and cranny of the closely drawnshutters in the luxurious private offices of Mainwaring & Co., StockBrokers, and slender shafts of light, darting here and there, lenta rich glow of color to the otherwise subdued tones of the elegantapartments.
A glance at the four occupants of one of these rooms, who haddisposed themselves in various attitudes according to theirindividual inclinations, revealed the fact that three out of thefour were Englishmen, while the fourth might have been denominatedas a typical American from the professional class. Of ratherslender form, with a face of rare sensitiveness and delicacy, andrestless, penetrating eyes, his every movement indicated energy andalertness. On the present occasion he had little to say, but wasengaged in listening attentively to the conversation of the others.
Beside a rosewood desk, whose belongings, arranged with mathematicalprecision, indicated the methodical business habits of its owner,sat Hugh Mainwaring, senior member of the firm of Mainwaring & Co.,a man approaching his fiftieth birthday. His dress and manners,less pronouncedly English than those of the remaining two, betokenedthe polished man of the world as well as the shrewd financier. Hewore an elegant business suit and his linen was immaculate; hishair, dark and slightly tinged with gray, was closely cut; hissmoothly shaven face, less florid than those of his companions,was particularly noticeable on account of a pair of dark grayeyes, cold and calculating, and which had at times a steel-likeglitter. Though an attractive face, it was not altogether pleasing;it was too sensuous, and indicated stubbornness and self-will ratherthan firmness or strength.
Half reclining upon a couch on the opposite side of the room, in anattitude more comfortable than graceful, leisurely smoking a fineHavana, was Ralph Mainwaring, of London, a cousin of the New Yorkbroker, who, at the invitation of the latter, was paying his firstvisit to the great western metropolis. Between the two cousinsthere were few points of resemblance. Both had the same cold,calculating gaze, which made one, subjected to its scrutiny, feelthat he was being mentally weighed and measured and would, in allprobability, be found lacking; but the Londoner possessed a morephlegmatic temperament. A year or two his cousin's junior, helooked considerably younger; as his hair and heavy English sidewhiskers were unmixed with gray and he was inclined to stoutness.
Seated near him, in an immense arm-chair which he filled admirably,was William Mainwaring Thornton, of London, also a guest of HughMainwaring and distantly connected with the two cousins. He wasthe youngest of the three Englishmen and the embodiment ofgeniality. He was a blond of the purest type, and his beard,parted in the centre, was brushed back in two wavy, silken masses,while his clear blue eyes, beaming with kindliness and good-humor,had the frankness of a child's.
Hugh Mainwaring, the sole heir to the family estate, soon afterthe death of his father, some twenty-five years previous to thistime, became weary of the monotony of his English homelife, and,resolved upon making his permanent home in one of the large easterncities of the United States and embarking upon the uncertain andtreacherous seas of speculation in the western world, had sold theestate which for a number of generations had been in the possessionof the Mainwarings, and had come to America. In addition to hisheavy capital, he had invested a large amount of keen business tactand ability; his venture had met with almost phenomenal success andhe had acquired immense wealth besides his inherited fortune.
His more conservative cousin, Ralph Mainwaring, while never quiteforgiving him for having disposed of the estate, had, nevertheless,with the shrewdness and foresight for which his family were noted,given to his only son the name of Hugh Mainwaring, confident thathis American-English cousin would never marry, and hoping therebyto win back the old Mainwaring estate into his own line of thefamily. His bit of strategy had succeeded; and now, after morethan twenty years, his foresight and worldly wisdom were about tobe rewarded, for the occasion of this reunion between thelong-separated cousins was the celebration of the rapidlyapproaching fiftieth birthday of Hugh Mainwaring, at which timeHugh Mainwaring, Jr., would attain his majority, and in recognitionof that happy event the New York millionaire broker had announcedhis intention of making his will in favor of his namesake, and onthat day formally declaring him his lawful heir.
This had been the object of the conference in the private officeof Hugh Mainwaring, and now that it was over and all necessaryarrangements had been made, that gentleman turned from his deskwith a sigh of relief.
"I am heartily glad that this business is over," he said,addressing his guests; "it has been on my mind for some time, andI have consulted with Mr. Whitney about it," with a slight nodtowards the fourth gentleman, who was his attorney and legal adviser."We have both felt that it should have been attended to before this;and yet, as I considered this would be the most fitting time to makea final adjustment of affairs, I have on that account delayedlonger than I otherwise would have done. Now everything is arrangedin a manner satisfactory, I trust, to all parties immediatelyconcerned, and nothing remains but to draw up and execute the papers,which will be done to-morrow."
"You are not then troubled with any unpleasant superstitionsregarding the making of a will?" commented Mr. Thornton.
"No," replied the other, slowly. "I am not of the opinion that itwill hasten my exit from this world; but even if it did, I wouldhave the satisfaction of knowing that my own wishes would becarried out in the settlement of my estate, and that no one wouldderive any benefit from my demise excepting those whom I considerlegally entitled thereto."
Ralph Mainwaring looked curiously at his cousin through half-closedeyes.
"I suppose," he remarked, very deliberately, "that even in casethere were no will the property would revert to our branch of thefamily; we are the nearest of kin, you know."
"Yes, I know your family would be considered the lawful heirs,"Hugh Mainwaring replied, while he and Mr. Whitney exchanged glances;"but this is not England; here any common adventurer might comeforward with some pretended claim against the estate, and I preferto see affairs definitely settled in my own way."
"Of course," responded the other, resuming his cigar. "Well,speaking for myself, I am more than willing to relinquish any shareI might have had for the boy's sake, and I don't suppose, Thornton,that you have any objections to raise on Edith's account."
"Oh, no, no," replied that gentleman, with a pleasant laugh. "Inever considered Hugh a bad son-in-law to begin with, but I'll admithe is a little more attractive now than ever."
The little clock on the marble mantel chimed the hour of four,causing a general movement of surprise. "'Pon my soul! had no ideait was that late," exclaimed Mr. Thornton, taking out his watch,while Hugh Mainwaring, touching an electric button, replied,--
"This business has detained us much longer than I anticipated. Iwill give some instructions to
the head clerk, and we will leave atonce."
He had scarcely finished speaking, when a door opened noiselesslyand a middle-aged man appeared.
"Parsons," said Mr. Mainwaring, addressing him in quick, incisivetones, "I am going out to Fair Oaks, and probably shall not be atthe office for two or three days, unless something of unusualimportance should demand my presence. Refer all business callersto Mr. Elliott or Mr. Chittenden. Any personal calls, if speciallyimportant, just say that I can be found at Fair Oaks."
Parsons bowed gravely, and after a few further instructions retired.
"Now, Mr. Whitney," Hugh Mainwaring continued, at the same timetouching another electric button, "you, of course, will be one ofour party at Fair Oaks; my secretary will accompany us, and thepapers will be drawn up to-morrow in my private library, after whichyou will do us the honor to join us in the pleasures of the followingday."
"I am at your service, Mr. Mainwaring," responded the attorney; "but,"he added, in low tones, intended only for Hugh Mainwaring's ear, butwhich were heard distinctly by the private secretary, now standingbeside the desk, "would it not be better to draw up the will here,in your private office? My presence at the house on the presentoccasion might attract attention and arouse some suspicions as toyour intentions."
"That makes no difference," replied Hugh Mainwaring, quickly, butalso speaking in a low tone; "my private papers are all at the house,and I choose that this business shall be conducted there. I believethat I am master in my own house yet."
Mr. Whitney bowed in acquiescence, and Hugh Mainwaring turned tohis secretary,--
"Mr. Scott, just close up everything in the office as quickly aspossible and get ready to accompany me to Fair Oaks; I shall needyou there for two or three days."
It was not the first time the private secretary had accompanied Mr.Mainwaring to his elegant suburban residence, and he understoodperfectly what was expected of him, and immediately withdrew tomake his preparations as expeditiously as possible.
For some reason, which Hugh Mainwaring had never stopped to explaineven to himself, he always accorded to his private secretary muchmore respect and consideration than to any one of his other numerousemployees.
Harry Scott was not only a young man of superior education and goodbreeding, but what particularly impressed his employer in his favorwas a certain natural reserve which caused him to hold himself alooffrom his associates in the offices of Mainwaring & Co., and an innaterefinement and delicacy which kept him, under all circumstances,from any gaucherie on the one hand, or undue familiarity on theother; he was always respectful but never servile. He had been inthe employ of Hugh Mainwaring for a little more than a year, and,having frequently accompanied him to Fair Oaks to remain for a dayor two, was, consequently, quite familiar with the house and grounds.
As he re-entered the room, having exchanged his business suit forone more suitable to the occasion, there was not one present butwhat instinctively, though perhaps unconsciously, recognized in hima true gentleman and treated him as such. Tall, with a splendidphysique, finely shaped head, dark hair, and eyes of peculiar beauty,he was far from being the least attractive member of the party which,a few moments later, entered the Mainwaring carriage, with its coatof arms, and rolled away in the direction of Fair Oaks.