CHAPTER X
BEHIND THE SCENES
The crowd dispersed rapidly, passing down the oak-lined avenue intwos and threes, engaged in animated discussion of the details ofthe inquest, while each one advanced some theory of his ownregarding the murder. Mr. Sutherland had taken his departure aftermaking an appointment with Scott for the following day, and thelatter now stood in one of the deep bow-windows engrossed with hisown thoughts. Suspicion had been partially diverted from himself,but only partially, as he well knew, to return like a tidal wave,deepened and intensified by personal animosity, whenever the factshe had thus far so carefully concealed should become known. He gavelittle thought to this, however, except as it influenced him inplanning his course of action for the next few days.
He was aroused from his revery by the sound of approaching steps,and, turning, met Mr. Whitney.
"Ah, Mr. Scott, I was just looking for you. I thought possibly youhad slipped back to the city with the crowd. I wanted to say, Mr.Scott, that, if it will be agreeable to you, I wish you would remainat Fair Oaks for the next few days, or weeks, as the case may be.Mr. Ralph Mainwaring has retained my services to aid in securinghis title to the estate, and the will having been destroyed,complications are likely to arise, so that it may take some time toget matters adjusted. Much of the business will, of necessity, haveto be transacted here, as all of Mr. Mainwaring's private papers arehere, and if you will stay and help us out I will see, of course,that your salary goes right on as usual."
An excuse fur remaining at Fair Oaks was what Scott particularlydesired, but he replied indifferently, "If it will accommodate you,Mr. Whitney, I can remain for a few days."
"Very well. I cannot say just how long we may need you, though Ianticipate a long contest."
"Against Mrs. LaGrange?"
"Yes; though she has, in my opinion, no legal right whatever, yetshe will make a hard fight, and with that trickster Hobson to helpher with his chicanery, it is liable to take some time to beat them."
"You expect to win in the end, however?"
"Certainly; there is no doubt but that Ralph Mainwaring will win thecase. He will get the property either for his son or for himself.We are first going to try to have the will upheld in the courts.Failing in that, the property will, of course, be divided betweenthe nearest heirs, Ralph Mainwaring and a younger bachelor brother;in which event, the whole thing will, in all probability, finallyrevert to his son Hugh."
"Mr. Whitney, what is your opinion of Mrs. LaGrange's story of aprivate marriage?"
The attorney shook his head decidedly. "One of her clever lies; butif she ever undertakes to tell that little romance in court, I'lltear it all to shreds. She never was married to Hugh Mainwaring;but," he added, slowly, "I may as well tell you that Walter was hisson. Mr. Mainwaring the same as admitted that to me once; but Iam certain that, aside from that fact, that woman had some terriblehold on him, though what I never knew. By the way, Mr. Scott, doyou know anything of the particulars of that transaction to whichthose letters referred and to which Hobson alluded to-day?"
"Yes, sir."
Mr. Whitney looked keenly at the young man. "You obtained yourknowledge originally from other sources than Mr. Mainwaring'scorrespondence, did you not?"
"Yes, sir."
"I thought so. Do you know, Mr. Scott, I would denounce the wholething as a lie, a scheme of that adventuress, or that impostor,Hobson, or both, by which they hope to gain some hold on the heirs,were it not that, from your manner, I have been convinced that youhave some personal knowledge of the facts in the case,--that youknow far more than you have yet told."
Mr. Whitney paused, watching the young secretary closely, but therewas no reply, and, with all his penetration, the attorney could readnothing in the immobile face before him. He continued,--
"Whatever that transaction may have been, I wish to know nothingabout it. I was much attached to Mr. Mainwaring and respected himhighly, and I want to respect his memory; and I will tell youfrankly what I most dread in this coming contest. I expect nothingelse but that either that woman or Hobson will drag the affair outfrom its hiding-place, and will hold it up for the public to gloatover, as it always does. I hate to see a man's reputation blackenedin that way, especially when that man was my friend and his ownlips are sealed in death."
"It is a pity," said Scott, slowly; "but if one wishes to leavebehind him an untarnished reputation, he must back it up, whileliving, with an unblemished character."
"Well," said the attorney, tentatively, after another pause, "Mr.Mainwaring's character, whatever it may have been before we wereassociated with him, certainly had no effect upon your life or mine,hence I feel that it is nothing with which we are directly concerned;and I believe, in fact I know, that it will be for your interest, Mr.Scott, if you say nothing regarding whatever knowledge you may haveof the past."
Mr. Whitney, watching the effect of his words, suddenly saw anexpression totally unlike anything he had ever seen on the face ofthe secretary, and yet strangely familiar.
Scott turned and faced him, with eyes cold and cynical and thatseemed to pierce him through and through, remarking, in tones ofquiet irony, "I am greatly obliged for your advice, Mr. Whitney,regarding my interests, but it is not needed. Furthermore, I thinkall your thought and attention will be required to look after theinterests of Ralph Mainwaring," and without waiting for reply, hestepped through one of the low, old-fashioned windows opening uponthe veranda and disappeared, leaving the attorney alone.
"By George, but that was cool!" ejaculated the latter. "And thatlook; where have I seen it? I believe that Ralph Mainwaring ismore than half right after all, and there is something back of allthis!"
So absorbed was he in his own reflections as to be wholly unawareof the presence of the detective in the hall, near the doorway,where he had paused long enough to witness the parting betweenScott and the attorney, and who now passed quietly up-stairs,remarking to himself, "Whitney is pretty sharp, but he's more thangot his match there. That young fellow is too deep for him or anyof the rest of 'em, and he's likely to come out where they leastexpect to find him."
Half an hour later, Mr. Merrick, stepping from the private libraryinto the upper southern hall, heard the sound of voices, which,from his familiarity with the rooms, he knew must proceed from Mrs.LaGrange's parlor. He cautiously descended the stairs to thelowest landing, in which was a deep window. The shutters weretightly closed, and, concealing himself behind the heavy curtains,he awaited developments. He was now directly opposite the door ofthe parlor, and through the partially open transom he could hearthe imperious tones of Mrs. LaGrange and the soft, insinuatingaccents of Hobson. For a while he was unable to distinguish aword, but the variations in Hobson's tones indicated that he wasnot seated, but walking back and forth, while Mrs. LaGrange's voicebetrayed intense excitement and gradually grew louder.
"You are not altogether invulnerable," Merrick heard her say,angrily. "You were an accessory in that affair, and you cannotdeny it?"
Hobson evidently had paused near the door, as his reply wasdistinctly audible. "You have not an atom of proof; as you wellknow; and even if you had, our acquaintance, my dear madam, has beentoo long and of too intimate a nature for you to care to attemptany of your little tricks with me. You play a deep game, my lady,but I hold the winning hand yet."
"If you are dastardly enough to threaten me, I am not such a cowardas to fear you. I have played my cards better than you know," sheanswered, defiantly.
"My dear lady," Hobson replied, and the door-knob turned slightlyunder his hand, "those little speeches sound very well, but we bothunderstand each other perfectly. You want my services in this case;you must have them; and I am willing to render them; but it isuseless for you to dictate terms to me. I will undertake the casein accordance with your wishes, but only upon the conditionsmentioned."
The reply was inaudible, but was evidently satisfactory to Hobson,for, as he opened the door, there was a leer o
f triumph on his face.He glanced suspiciously about the hall, and, on reaching the door,turned to Mrs. LaGrange, who had accompanied him, saying, in hissmoothest tones,--
"I shall be out again in two or three days. Should you wish to seeme before that time, you can telephone to my office or send me word."
She bowed silently and he took his departure, but as she returnedto her room, she exclaimed, fiercely, "Craven! Let me but once getmy rights secured, and he will find whether I stand in fear of him!"
Having taken leave of Mrs. LaGrange, Hobson carefully avoided thefront part of the house and grounds, taking instead the gravelledwalk leading through the grove towards the lake in the rear and outupon the side street. As he was hurrying along this rather secludedavenue, he was suddenly confronted by Scott. Although strangers toeach other, Hobson instantly conjectured that this must be thesecretary who had betrayed such familiarity with the correspondencewhich had passed between himself and Hugh Mainwaring, and that itmight be to his own interest to form the acquaintance of the youngman.
Quick as thought he drew from his pocket a card, and, pausingsuddenly in his rapid walk, said, with a profound bow,--
"I beg pardon; I cannot be mistaken; have I not the pleasure ofaddressing Mr. Scott?"
"That is my name," replied the secretary, coldly.
"I beg you will accept this card; and allow me to suggest that youmay find it conducive to your interests to call upon me at theaddress named, if you will take the trouble to do so."
Scott glanced from the card to the speaker, regarding the latterwith close scrutiny. "You seem very solicitous of the interests ofa stranger, as it is not to be presumed that you have any ulteriormotive in making this suggestion."
Hobson appeared to ignore the sarcasm. "It is barely possible," hecontinued, in his most ingratiating tones, "that I may be inpossession of facts which it would be to your advantage to learn."
"In case you are, I suppose, of course, you would impart them to mesimply out of pure disinterestedness, without a thought of pecuniarycompensation?"
Hobson winced and glanced nervously about him. "I must hasten," hesaid; "I cannot stop for explanations; but you will find me in myoffice at two o'clock to-morrow, if you care to call. Meantime,my young friend, I am not perhaps as mercenary as you think, and Imay be able to be of great assistance to you," and with a final bow,the man hastily disappeared around a turn of the winding walk.
Scott proceeded in the opposite direction in a deep study. "Is itpossible," he soliloquized, "that that creature is on my track andhas any proposition to make to me? Or, is he afraid that I know hissecret, and that I may deprive him of his hold upon the Mainwarings?More likely it is the latter. A week ago I was looking for thatman, and would probably have endeavored to make terms with him,though it would have involved an immense amount of risk, for acast-iron contract wouldn't hold him, and his testimony would beworth little or nothing, one way or the other." Scott glancedagain at the address on the card. "Not a very desirable locality!It probably suits him and his business, though: I believe, I willgive the scoundrel a call and see what I can draw out of him."
Dinner was announced as Scott returned to the house, and a numberof circumstances combined to render the meal far pleasanter andmore social than any since the death of the master of Fair Oaks.Mr. Merrick was nowhere to be found, and the slight restraintimposed by his presence was removed. Mrs. LaGrange and her sonwere also absent, preferring to take their meals privately inan adjoining room which Hugh Mainwaring had often used as abreakfast-room. The silence and frigidity which had latelyreigned at the table seemed to have given place to almost universalsociability, though Ralph Mainwaring's face still wore a sullenscowl.
As Mr. Whitney met the secretary, his sensitive face flushed at theremembrance of their late interview, and he watched the young manwith evident curiosity. Scott was conscious, however, of anincreased friendliness towards himself on the part of most of theguests, but feeling that it was likely to prove of short duration,he remained noncommittal and indifferent. As they left the table,Miss Carleton rallied him on his appearance.
"Mr. Scott, you are a mystery!"
"Why so, Miss Carleton, if you please?" he asked, quickly.
"Just now, when everybody's spirits are relaxing after that horribleinquest, you look more serious and glum than I have ever seen you.I threw myself into the breach this afternoon to rescue you from theenemy's grounds, whither you had been carried by the sensationalstatements of Mrs. LaGrange and the coachman and chambermaid, and Ihave not even seen you smile once since. Perhaps," she added,archly, "you didn't care to be rescued by a woman, but would havepreferred to make your own way out."
"No," said Scott, smiling very brightly now; "I'll not be soungrateful as to say that, though I believe I am generally able tofight my own battles; but I will confess I was somewhat disappointedthis afternoon when you gave your testimony."
"How could that be?" she inquired, greatly surprised.
"Up to that time I had flattered myself that I had one friend whohad faith in me, even though circumstances conspired against me. Idiscovered, then, that it was no confidence in me, but only aknowledge of some of the facts, that kept her from turning againstme like the rest."
Scott spoke in serio-comic tones, and Miss Carleton looked keenlyin his face to see if he were jesting.
"No; you are mistaken, Mr. Scott," she said, slowly, after a pause."My confidence in you would have been just as strong if I had knownnothing of the facts."
"Thank you; I am very glad to hear that," he answered. Then added,gently, "Would, it be strong enough to stand a far heavier strainthan that, if it were necessary?"
His tones were serious now, and she regarded him inquiringly for amoment before speaking; then seeing young Mainwaring approachingwith his sister and Miss Thornton, she replied, in low tones,--
"I have no idea to what you refer, Mr. Scott, and I begin to thinkyou are indeed a 'mystery;' but you can be assured of this much: Iwould never, under any circumstances, believe you capable ofanything false or dishonorable."
Scott's eyes expressed his gratification at these words, and hewould then have withdrawn, but neither Miss Carleton nor youngMainwaring gave him an opportunity to do so without seemingdiscourteous. Both drew him into conversation and found himexceedingly entertaining, though reserved concerning himself.Isabel Mainwaring still held herself aloof and took little part inthe conversation, but to make amends for this Miss Thornton bestowedsome of her most winning smiles upon the handsome young secretary,her large, infantile blue eyes regarding him with wonderingcuriosity.
After a pleasant evening, Scott excused himself and retired to hisroom; but an hour or two later there was a knock at his door, andon opening it he saw young Mainwaring in smoking-cap and jacket.
"I say, Scott, won't you come out and have a smoke? I've got somefine cigars, and it's too pretty a night to stay in one's room;come out on my balcony and we'll have a bit of a talk and smoke."
Scott readily consented, and the two young men proceeded to thebalcony upon which Mainwaring's room opened, where the latter hadalready placed two reclining chairs and a small table containinga box of his favorite Havanas.
For a few moments they puffed in silence, looking out into thestarlit night with its beauty of dim outline and mysterious shadow.Mainwaring was the first to speak.
"I say, Scott, I'm awfully ashamed of the way that some of us, myfamily in particular, have treated you within the last day or two.It was confoundedly shabby, and I beg your pardon for my share init, anyhow."
"Don't waste any regrets over that matter," Scott answered,indifferently; "I never gave it any thought, and it is not worthmentioning."
"I do regret it, though, more than I can tell, and I haven't anyexcuse for myself; only things did look so deucedly queer therefor a while, don't you know?"
"Well," said Scott, pleasantly, "we are not out of the woods yet,and there is no telling what developments may arise. Things might'look q
ueer' again, you know."
"That's all right. I know a gentleman when I see him, unless Ihappen to lose my head, and that doesn't occur very often. Nowit's different with the governor. He's got so confoundedly wroughtup over that will, don't you know, that he can't think of anythingelse, and there's no reason in him."
"As I understand it," remarked Scott, "Mr. Mainwaring expects towin the property in any case, either for you or for himself."
"Yes; and naturally you might think that the loss of the willwouldn't amount to much, one way or the other; but it's like this:the governor and I are very different; I know we've got plenty ofducats, and that's enough for me, but not for him; he is ambitious.It has always galled him that we were not in the direct line ofdescent from the main branch of the Mainwarings; and it has beenhis one great ambition since the death of old Ralph Mainwaring,Hugh's father, a few years before I was born, to win into his ownfamily the old Mainwaring estate. He had an idea that Hugh wouldnever marry, and gave me his name, hoping that I would be madehis heir. Should the governor succeed in this scheme of his, hewill immediately buy back the Mainwaring estate, although he knowsI don't care a rap for the whole thing, and we will then have thehonor, as he considers it, of perpetuating the old family line.On the other hand, if the property goes to the nearest heirs, itwill be divided between him and his younger brother. Uncle Haroldhas no more ambition than I have, and though he is at present abachelor, that is no guarantee that he will remain one; and, anyhow,it isn't likely that there will be much of his share left when hegets through with it. So you see how much importance the governorattached to that will."
"I understand," said Scott, as his companion paused. Then he added,musingly, "Your uncle's name seems to be rather unusual among theMainwarings; I do not recall your having mentioned it before."
"What, Harold? On the contrary, it is the great name in our family,especially in the main line. I would have been given that name ifthe governor had not been looking out for Hugh Mainwaring's money.There was a direct line of Harolds down to my great-grandfather.He gave the name to his eldest son, but he died, and the next one,Ralph, Hugh's father, took up the line. Guy, my grandfather, wasthe youngest."
"One would almost have thought that Hugh Mainwaring would have bornethe name of Harold," commented Scott.
Young Mainwaring smoked for a moment in silence, then said, in lowertones, "Old Uncle Ralph had a son by that name."
"Indeed! Had Hugh Mainwaring a brother?" Scott asked in surprise.
"Yes, there was a brother, but he died a great many years ago.There is quite a story connected with his name, but I don't knowmany of the particulars, for the governor seldom alludes to it. Iknow, however, that Harold was the elder son, but that Uncle Ralphdisinherited him for marrying against his wishes, and afterwardsdied of grief over the affair, and soon after his father's deathHarold was lost at sea."
"You say he married; did he leave any children?"
"No, I believe he had no children; but even if he had, they would havebeen disinherited also. Uncle Ralph was severe; he would not evenallow Harold's name to be mentioned; and Hugh also must have turnedagainst his brother, for I have heard that he never spoke of him orallowed any allusion to be made to him."
"Well," said Scott, after a pause, "I believe Hugh Mainwaring's lifewas far from happy."
"You are right there. I'll never forget the last words he everspoke to me as I took leave of him that night. They were to theeffect that he hoped when I should have reached his age, I would beable to look back over a happier past than his had been. It is myopinion, too, that that woman was the cause of his unhappiness, andI believe she is at the bottom of all this trouble."
Their conversation had drifted to the mystery then surrounding them,and for more than an hour they dwelt on that subject, advancing manysurmises, some strangely improbable, but none of which seemed tobring them any nearer a solution of the problem.
"My first visit to this country has proved an eventful one," saidyoung Mainwaring, as, at a late hour, they finally separated for thenight, "and I don't know yet how it may terminate; but there's onething I shall look back upon with pleasure, and that is my meetingwith you; and I hope that from this time or we will be friends; andthat this friendship, begun to-night, will be renewed in old Englandmany a time."
"Are you not rather rash," Scott inquired, slowly, "considering howlittle we know of each other, the circumstances under which we havemet, and the uncertainty of what the future may reveal?"
"No; I'm peculiar. When I like a fellow, I like him; and I've beenstudying you pretty closely. I don't think we need either of us betroubled about the future; but I'm your friend, Scott, and, whateverhappens, I'll stand by you."
"So be it, then, Hugh," replied the secretary, clasping the hand ofthe young Englishman and, for the first time, calling him by name."I thank you, and I hope you will never go back on that."