CHAPTER XIV
THE EXIT OF SCOTT, THE SECRETARY
One of the first duties which the secretary was called upon toperform, during his brief stay at Fair Oaks, was to make a copy ofthe lost will. He still retained in his possession the stenographicnotes of the original document as it had been dictated by HughMainwaring on that last morning of his life, and it was but thework of an hour or two to again transcribe them in his clearchirography.
Engaged in this work, he was seated at the large desk in thetower-room, which had that morning been opened for use for the firsttime since the death of its owner. He wrote rapidly, and thedocument was nearly completed when Mr. Whitney and Ralph Mainwaringtogether entered the adjoining room.
"Egad!" he heard the latter exclaim, angrily, "if that blastedscoundrel thinks he has any hold on me, or that he can keep me onthe rack as he did Hugh, he'll find he has made the biggest mistakeof his life. It is nothing but a blackmailing scheme, and I've morethan half a mind to sift the whole matter to the bottom and landthat beggarly impostor where he belongs."
"I hardly know just what to advise under the circumstances," Mr.Whitney answered, quietly, "for I, naturally, have some personalfeeling in this matter, and I am forced to believe, Mr. Mainwaring,that there is something back of all this which neither you nor Iwould care to have given publicity. But, laying aside thatconsideration, I am of the opinion that it might not be to yourinterest to push this matter too closely."
"On what grounds, sir, do you base your opinion?" Mr. Mainwaringdemanded.
The attorney's reply, however, was lost upon Scott, whose attentionhad been suddenly arrested by the imprint of a peculiar signatureacross one corner of the blotter upon which he was drying his work,now completed. Instantly, oblivious to everything else, hecarefully examined the blotter. It was a large one, fastened tothe top of the desk, and had been in use but a comparatively shorttime. It bore traces both of Hugh Mainwaring's writing and ofhis own, but this name, standing out boldly on one corner, wasutterly unlike either. Nor did it resemble any of the signaturesattached to the will on that memorable day when the desk with itsparaphernalia had been last used.
Considerably perplexed, Scott suddenly recalled a small pocketmirror which he had seen in the desk. This he speedily found, and,having placed it at the right angle, leaned over to get a view ofthe name as it had been originally written. As he did so, hecaught sight of some faint lines above the signature which he hadnot observed, but which were plainly visible in the mirror. It waswell for the secretary that he was alone, for, as he read thesignature with the words outlined above, he was spellbound. For amoment he seemed almost paralyzed, unable to move. His brainwhirled, and, when he at last sank back in his chair, his face wasblanched and he felt giddy and faint from the discovery which hehad made. Gradually he became conscious of his surroundings. Againhe heard, as in a dream, the conversation in the adjoining room.The attorney was speaking.
"I do not at present feel at liberty to give the source of myinformation, but I can assure you it is perfectly reliable, and myinformant would never have made such an assertion unless he had ampleauthority to back it up."
"I don't care a rap for your information or its source," the otherinterrupted, impatiently. "The whole thing is simply preposterous.The estate descended regularly to Hugh Mainwaring, and from him toour own family as next of kin. You can see for yourself that totalk of any other claimants having prior rights is an utterabsurdity."
"Had not Hugh Mainwaring an elder brother?"
"He had; but you must be aware that he died a great many years ago."
"But had that elder brother no issue?"
"None living," Mr. Mainwaring replied, coldly. Then added, in thesame tone, "Even had there been, that fact would have no bearing onthis case, Mr. Whitney. The entire estate was transferred to HughMainwaring by legal process before the death of his brother, he andhis heirs having been forever disinherited, so that it is the sameas though he had never existed."
While he was speaking, the secretary entered the library, his pallorand unusual expression attracting Mr. Whitney's attention. Inresponse to a glance of inquiry from the latter, however, he merelysaid,--
"The copy is completed. You will find it on the desk," and passedfrom the library into the hall.
Still wondering at his appearance, Mr. Whitney proceeded to thetower-room, and a moment later both gentlemen were absorbed in theperusal of the duplicate of the lost will; but afterwards theattorney recalled that, on taking the document from the desk, hehad noticed that the large blotter covering the top had been removedand replaced by a new one.
There was no perceptible change in Scott's appearance during theremainder of the day, except that he seemed more than usuallythoughtful, sometimes to the verge of abstraction, but, in reality,his mind was so preoccupied with endless doubts and surmisesregarding his recent discovery that he found it exceedingly difficultto concentrate his attention upon the work required of him. Thatafternoon, however, while engaged in looking through some importantdocuments belonging to Hugh Mainwaring, kept at the city offices,a cablegram was handed him, addressed to himself personally, fromBarton & Barton, a well-known legal firm in London. The despatchitself caused him little surprise, as he had been in correspondencewith this firm for more than a year; but the contents of the messagewere altogether unexpected, and left him in a state of bewilderment.It read,--
"Have you met J. Henry Carruthers, of London, supposed to havesailed ten days since, or can you give us his whereabouts?"
Fortunately, Scott was alone, Ralph Mainwaring and the attorneybeing in the private offices, and he had plenty of opportunity torecover from his surprise. For half an hour he revolved thematter in his thoughts, wondering whether this had any bearingupon the question which for the last few hours he had been tryingto solve. A little later he sent the following reply:
"Person mentioned seen on 7th instant. No trace since. You havemy letter of 8th instant. Cable instructions."
As the Mainwaring carriage appeared at the offices at four o'clock,to convey the gentlemen to Fair Oaks, Mr. Whitney was surprised tofind the secretary still engaged at his desk.
"If you will excuse me," the latter said, pleasantly, "I will notgo out to Fair Oaks this evening. I have some unfinished work here,and I will remain in the city to-night."
Upon entering the offices the next day, however, the attorney foundthe following note addressed to himself:
"Mr. WHITNEY.
"DEAR SIR,--I regret to be compelled to inform you that you willhave to look for another assistant, as important business callsme away for an indefinite period. Do not give yourself anytrouble concerning the salary which you kindly offered me. I amnot in need of it, and have only been too glad to render you thelittle assistance within my power, knowing, as I do, that you haveno easy case on your hands.
"Trusting we shall meet in the future, I am, with great esteem,
"Very truly yours, "H. SCOTT.
As Mr. Whitney read and reread this note, the words of the detectiveregarding the private secretary were recalled to his mind, and hemuttered,--
"Yes, Merrick was right. It is very evident the young man is not'looking for a job;' but I'll be blessed if I know what to thinkof him!"
Upon Mr. Whitney's return to Fair Oaks, he found the guests assembledon the veranda, overlooking the river, Mr. Merrick, who had justreturned from a few days' absence, being also included in the company.There were many exclamations of surprise and considerable commentwhen Mr. Whitney told of the sudden disappearance of the secretary.
"Now, that is too bad!" cried Edith Thornton. "He was sointeresting, and we were all beginning to like him so much."
"I don't know that any of us were so charmed with him as one mightbe led to suppose from your remark, Edith," said Isabel Mainwaring,with a disdainful glance towards the attorney, who had seatedhimself beside Miss Carleton; "but here, al
most any one will answerfor a diversion, and he was really quite entertaining."
"It is not to be expected that you would see or appreciate his goodpoints," said her brother, with half a sneer; "but Scott is a finefellow and a gentleman, and I shall miss him awfully."
Miss Carleton remained silent; but for some reason, unexplainableto herself, she was conscious of a vague sense of disappointment andinjury. She would not admit to herself that she was troubled becauseScott had gone, it was the manner of his departure. Surely, afterthe friendship and confidence she had shown him, he might at leasthave sent some word of farewell, instead of leaving as he had,apparently without a thought of her. However, she chatted graciouslywith Mr. Whitney, though, all the while, a proud, dark face withstrangely beautiful eyes persistently forced itself before her mentalvision, nearly obliterating the smiling face of the attorney.
Meanwhile, Ralph Mainwaring was giving the detective his views onthe subject.
"I, for one, am not sorry that he has followed the example of thecoachman and taken himself off. It is my opinion," he continued,in impressive tones, "that we will yet find he had reasons forleaving in this manner."
"Undoubtedly!" Merrick replied, with equal emphasis.
"Now, that's just where you're wrong, governor," said youngMainwaring. "Scott is as good as gold. There is no sneak abouthim, either; and if he had reasons for leaving as he has, they werenothing to his discredit; you can stake your last shilling on that!"
"Oh, I know he has pulled the wool over your eyes," said his father;"but he has never tried his smooth games on me; he knows I can seethrough him. I detest him. One of your typical American swells!Just what one would expect to find in a country where a common clerkis allowed to associate with gentlemen!"
"But, begging your pardon, Mr. Mainwaring," the detective interposed,quietly, "Mr. Scott is not an American. He has lived less than twoyears in this country."
A chorus of exclamations followed this statement.
"Not an American! Then he must be an Englishman," cried MissCarleton, her sparkling eyes unconsciously betraying her pleasure atthe discovery.
"Merrick, are you sure of that?" inquired Mr. Whitney, inastonishment.
"Certainly, or I would never have made the assertion I did."
Ralph Mainwaring suddenly turned the conversation. "How about thatwill business, Mr. Whitney? When will that come off?"
"The petition was filed this afternoon, and will be granted ahearing some time next week; I have not yet learned the day."
"And then will you gentlemen be ready to start for home?" Mrs.Mainwaring inquired, a touch of impatience in her voice.
"Well, by my soul! I should say not," laughed Mr. Thornton, beforeher husband could reply. "It will probably take a number of months,my dear madam, to settle up this estate, even if there should be nocontest; and if the case is contested, it may drag on for years, eh,Mr. Whitney?"
"That will depend upon circumstances. A contest would, of course,delay the case, perhaps for several months; but I am not aware ofany contestants with sufficient means for continuing it the lengthof time you mention."
"Mercy me!" exclaimed Mrs. Mainwaring, addressing her husband; "doyou and Hugh intend to remain here all that time?"
"Our stay will probably be somewhat indefinite," he replied,evasively; "but that is no reason why you and the young ladies needremain against your will."
"Indeed! Why could you not have said as much before? NeitherIsabel nor I care to remain here a day longer than is necessary;we have simply been awaiting your pleasure. Wilson, bring me themorning papers; I want to see what boats are expected. We willtake the first steamer home. Mr. Thornton, will you and the youngladies accompany us, or do you prefer to remain in exile a whilelonger?"
"Well," replied that gentleman, smiling genially, "speaking formyself, I would more than half like to stay and see this thingthrough; but the ladies are in the majority, and I will abide bytheir decision. How is it, Edith? I suppose, as the novelistssay, you will be 'torn by conflicting emotions.'"
"You horrid old papa! Of course, if auntie is going back, I shallgo with her. What do you say, Winifred?"
"I have very little choice, one way or the other," Miss Carletonreplied, more quietly than was usual for her; "whatever you andUncle William decide, will suit me."
"Ab, here are the papers!" said Mrs. Mainwaring, adjusting hereye-glasses. "These dreadful American dailies!" she exclaimed, asshe scanned the pages; "one never knows where to find anything. Ah,here it is, and just what we want! The 'Campania' sails Thursday,at three o'clock. That will suit us exactly."
"To-morrow! so soon!" exclaimed two or three voices.
"Certainly," she replied, rising. "I shall have the maids beginpacking at once; and, Mr. Thornton, I shall instruct Wilson toattend directly to your luggage, for you would never think of ituntil within an hour of sailing."
Her departure seemed the signal for the breaking up of the littlecompany. Mr. Whitney lingered a few moments at Miss Carleton'sside, with a few murmured words of regret that she was to leave sosoon, to which she listened courteously, though making littleresponse. After he had gone she remained standing where he hadleft her, gazing dreamily out on the river and the distant bluffs.Merrick, slowly sauntering up and down the veranda, had observedthe whole scene, and now watched the fair young face with asuggestion of a smile in his kindly eyes.
"H'm!" he soliloquized; "Whitney is a bigger fool than I've givenhim credit for if he thinks he stands any show in that direction.If I'm not mistaken, I know which way the wind blows, and it'sdollars to doughnuts she'll lose that far-away expression of hersbefore she's been aboard the 'Campania' many hours. I'd like to beaboard myself and watch the transformation scene."
The attorney's voice here broke in upon his cogitations.
"I say, Merrick, that was a regular bomb you threw at Mainwaringwith regard to young Scott! How did you discover he was anEnglishman?"
"I very easily ascertained that he was not an American; that he wasof English descent followed as a matter of course. I am not surewhether he is of English birth."
"You seem to be keeping an eye on him."
"It is my business just now to be posted regarding every oneassociated with this place. I've been keeping an eye on you forthe last thirty minutes."
The attorney colored, and hastily reverted to the original topic ofconversation. "Have you seen anything of him since he left us?"
"Since his resignation of the salary as well as the position ofprivate 'secretary?" queried the detective, half to himself, witha tone of amusement, which Mr. Whitney failed to comprehend. "Yes;I met him to-day at the Murray Hill."
"At the Murray Hill! Is he stopping there?"
"He evidently was this morning. So was I. Possibly we were both'stopping' on the same business; I cannot say."
The detective's face was a study, as was also the attorney's.
"I supposed," said the latter, after a short pause, "from the tenorof his note, that he intended to leave the city at once."
"Possibly he does," replied the other, enigmatically, and, havingconsulted his watch, turned abruptly in another direction.
"Say, what will you do about him? Shall you watch him?" Mr.Whitney called after the vanishing figure.
Merrick looked back over his shoulder with a peculiar smile. "Ishall not lose track of him," he said, slowly; "he is toointeresting."