XV -- TONY'S LAST OPPORTUNITY
THE sun shone pleasantly warm, and a soft wind sighed among thebranches, when Violet Wayne pulled up her ponies where the shadows ofthe firs fell athwart the winding road that dipped to Northrop valley.There had been a shower, and a sweet resinous fragrance came out of thedusky wood. Godfrey Palliser, who sat by the girl's side, however,shivered a little, and buttoned the big fur-trimmed coat that lay looseabout him, which did not escape his companion's attention.
"Shall we drive out into the sun?" she asked.
"No," said the man, "I think I should be just as chilly, and the viewfrom here pleases me. It is scarcely likely that I shall see it veryoften again."
Violet Wayne shook her head reproachfully as she glanced at him, thoughshe felt that the prediction might be verified, for Godfrey Palliser hadnever been a strong man in any respect, and though he sat stifflyupright he looked very worn and frail just then. The pallor of his facealso struck a little chill through her, for her pulses throbbed with thevigor of youth, and all the green world about her seemed to speak oflife and hope. Yet there was a gravity in her eyes, which suggested thatthe shadow of care also rested upon her.
"That is not the spirit to hasten one's recovery, and you have been everso much better lately," she said.
There was a curious wistfulness in Godfrey Palliser's smile, and he laida thin hand upon her arm. "I should like a little longer respite, if itwas only to see you Tony's wife," he said. "Then I should know that whatI had striven for so long would be worthily accomplished. Still, sincemy last illness I have other warnings than those the eminent specialistgave me, and I do not know at what hour the summons may come."
At the mention of Tony the shadow deepened for a moment in the girl'sface, for it seemed to her there was a meaning behind what the old manhad said which chimed with the misgivings that had troubled her of late.Still, she was loyal, and would not admit it even to herself.
"Tony would have made you a worthy successor in any case," she said.
Godfrey Palliser smiled curiously. "Tony has many likable qualities, buthe is weak," he said. "That, my dear is one reason I am glad that he isgoing to marry you, for it is a burden I shall, I think very shortly,bequeath him. You will help him to lighten it, as well as bear ithonorably."
"There are, as you know, women in this country who would not consider ita burden," said the girl.
Godfrey Palliser stretched out his hand and pointed to the vista ofsunlit valley which, framed by the dark fir branches, opened up beforethem. Green beech wood, springing wheat, and rich meadow rolled awayinto the blue distance under a sky of softest azure, with the riverflashing in the midst of them. Across the valley, under its shelteringhill-slope the gray front of Northrop Hall showed through emboweringtrees, and the tower of a little time-worn church rose in theforeground. It was this, Violet Wayne noticed, the old man's eyes restedlongest on.
"It will all be yours and Tony's from this bank of the river as far asthe beech woods where Sir George's land breaks in, and it is a burden Ihave found heavy enough these thirty years," he said. "The debt wasalmost crushing when it came to me, and rents were going down, while onecan look for very little from agricultural property. I did what I could,and thanks to the years of economy the load is a little lighter now; butonce I betrayed the trust reposed in me, and failed in my duty."
Violet Wayne could not quite hide her astonishment, for no shadow ofreproach had ever touched the punctilious Godfrey Palliser. He smiledwhen he saw the incredulity in her eyes.
"It is quite true, and yet the temptation to deceive myself was almostirresistible," he said. "For thirty years I had lived at Northrop withthe good will of my tenants and my neighbors' esteem, and if thatcounted for too much with me it was because I felt I held the honor ofthe name in trust to be passed on unblemished to you and Tony, and thosewho would come after you. That was why I yielded, and it is only becauseyou will be Tony's wife I make confession now."
"You are cold," said the girl hastily. "We will drive out into thesunshine."
Godfrey Palliser nodded, but he turned to her again as the ponies wentslowly down the hill. "It is necessary that you should listen, becausethe man may live to trouble you," he said. "It never became apparent whokilled Davidson--for killed he was--but Tony and I knew, though I stroveto convince myself the man I should have exposed might be innocent.Bernard Appleby would not have escaped to America if I had done my duty.Had the warrant been signed when it should have been Stitt would havearrested him."
"You cannot believe that Bernard Appleby was guilty!"
"I am sure, my dear. I would not admit it, but I knew it then--and still,perhaps, I had excuses. The man was of my own blood, and I had meant,when he had proved his right to it, to do something for him. Tony isgenerous, and would not have grudged what I purposed to spare for him.It was a crushing blow, and left me scarcely capable of thinking, whilebefore I quite realized it the thing was done, and I had become anaccessory to the escape of a criminal."
He stopped, gasped a little, for he had spoken with a curious intensityof expression; but the girl looked at him steadily.
"Still," she said quietly, "I am not convinced yet."
"No? It is quite plain to me that it could only have been him or Tony,and the latter suggestion is preposterous."
"Yes," said the girl, who shivered a little, though the sun was warm."Of course it is! Still, I cannot believe that the culprit was BernardAppleby."
Palliser smiled faintly. "One could envy you your charity, my dear, butI have a charge to lay on you. That man may come back--and Tony wouldtemporize. You, however, will show him no mercy. Not one penny of theNorthrop rents must be touched by him--and now we will talk of somethingpleasanter."
Violet Wayne shook the reins, and made an effort; but the old manappeared exhausted, and she was glad that he evinced no great interestin her conversation. What he had told her had left its sting, for shehad already been almost driven to the decision he had come to. Appleby,she felt,--why she did not exactly know, though the belief wasunshakable,--could not have done the horrible thing, and all the love andloyalty she possessed revolted against the suggestion that Tony wasguilty. Yet the brightness seemed to have gone out of the sunlight, andthe vista of wood and meadow lost its charm while the shadow deepened inher face as they drove down into the valley.
Her mother was waiting on the terrace when they reached Northrop Hall,and when Palliser had gone into the house leaning on a man's shouldershe looked at the girl curiously.
"You are a trifle pale, Violet," she said. "Of course, it is almost aduty, and he seems more tranquil in your company; but I have fanciedlately that you spend too much time with Godfrey Palliser. He seemsunusually feeble."
"I do not think he is as well to-day," said the girl.
"He has sent for lawyer Craythorne," said her mother thoughtfully."Well, you must shake off any morbid fancies he may have infected youwith. You have Tony to consider, and he has been moody lately. Iscarcely like to mention it, my dear, but I wonder if you have noticedthat he is not quite so abstemious as he was a little while ago."
A flush of crimson crept into the girl's cheek, and once more the littlechill struck through her, but she met the elder lady's eyes.
"I think you must be mistaken, mother," she said.
She turned and went into the house, but Mrs. Wayne sighed as she walkedthoughtfully up and down the terrace, for she had noticed more than shehad mentioned, and had fancies that were not pleasant to her. She hadborne much sorrow in her time with a high courage, but she was anxiousthat afternoon, for it seemed to her that there might be a grim realitybehind those fancies.
Godfrey Palliser insisted on dining with his guests that evening, whichhe had seldom done since his illness, and his four companions, amongwhom was the lawyer who had done his business for thirty years, longremembered that meal. Their host was dressed with his usual precision,and sat stiffly erect, as though disdaining the support the high-backedchair that had bee
n brought him might afford, but the sombre garmentsemphasized the pallor of his face, until, as the glow of the sinking sunstreamed in through the colored lights above the western window, a ruddygleam fell upon it. In that forced brilliancy its hollowness andfragility became more apparent, and it was almost a relief to those whosat at meat with him when the hall grew shadowy. He ate very little, andscarcely spoke to any one but Violet, though his voice was curiouslygentle when he did so; and when he sat silent his eyes would rest on herand Tony with a little contented smile.
Though they did what they could to hide it, there was a constraint uponthe party which the very servants seemed to feel, for Tony fancied theywere more swift and noiseless in their movements than usual. He alsonoticed the curious look in one man's eyes when, though the light wasscarcely fading outside, Godfrey Palliser signed to him.
"Bring lights. I cannot see," he said.
The lights were brought, naked wax candles in great silver holders, andtheir pale gleam flung back from glass and silver had a curious effectin the lingering daylight. There was silence for awhile, and Tony wasgrateful to Mrs. Wayne, who broke it tactfully; but the vague uneasinessremained, and more than one of those who saw the strained expression inhis eyes wondered whether it was the last time Godfrey Palliser woulddine in state at Northrop Hall. Nobody was sorry when Mrs. Wayne rose,but Palliser smiled at his nephew when Violet went out of the room withher.
"You will spare me a few minutes, Tony. I have something to ask you," hesaid. "We need have no diffidence in speaking before Mr. Craythorne."
The elderly lawyer bent his head, and Tony felt uneasy. "I shall be gladto tell you anything I can, sir," he said.
"It is rather your opinion than information I want," said Palliser."Some time ago you tried to convince me of Bernard's innocence, whileto-day Violet persisted that she could not believe him guilty--even whenI pointed out that so far as I could see the culprit was either you orhe. Are you still as sure Bernard was not the man responsible forDavidson's death as you were then? I am not asking without a purpose,and the fact that we are honored with Craythorne's company will show youthat I consider it necessary to set my house in order. It may be yoursvery soon now, Tony."
His low, even voice jarred upon one listener, and Tony spoke no morethan the truth when he broke out, "I hope you will hold it a good manyyears yet, sir!"
"Yes," said Palliser, with a little smile, which something in his eyesredeemed from being coldly formal, "I believe you though I scarcelythink it likely. Still, you have not answered my question."
"My opinion is not worth much, sir."
"I have asked you for it," said Palliser. "Nobody knows Bernard so wellas you do, and while I have scarcely a doubt in my own mind, Violet'sfaith in him had its effect on me. After all, he belongs to us, and Iwould like to believe him innocent, incredible as it seems, or at leastto hear something in extenuation. You will think me illogical in this,Craythorne?"
Craythorne smiled. "Then I admit that, being a lawyer, I am more so, forI would believe in Bernard Appleby against the evidence of my eyes. Italso seems to me that the intuitions of young women of Miss Wayne's kindmerit more respect than they usually receive."
"I am still waiting, Tony," said Palliser.
Tony sat silent almost too long, for the words "either you or he"troubled him. Had Godfrey Palliser not spoken them he might haveanswered differently, but as it was his apprehensions overcame him.
"It is a hard thing to admit, but I am afraid my views have changedsince then," he said.
The lawyer regarded him covertly, and noticed the furtiveness of hiseyes, but Palliser sighed. "You have," he said, "nothing to urge inextenuation?"
"No, sir," said Tony. "I wish I had!"
"Then you will be so much the richer," said Palliser dryly. "Now Violetwill be waiting, and Craythorne and I have a good deal to do. I shallretire when we have finished. Good night, Tony!"
He held out his hand when Tony rose, and the younger man noticed howcold his fingers felt. "Good night, sir," he said. "I trust you willfeel brighter in the morning."
The chilly fingers still detained him and Palliser said very quietly,"One never knows what may happen, Tony; but it would be my wish that youand Violet did not wait very long."
Tony went out with a curious throbbing of his pulses and a horriblesense of degradation, for he knew that he had perjured himself to adying man who trusted him. The room he entered was dimly lighted, but heknew where the spirit stand and siphon were kept, and a liberal measureof brandy was frothing in the glass, when there was a light step behindhim and a hand touched his arm.
"No!" said a low voice with a little ring of command in it.
Tony started, and swinging round with a dark flush in his face sawViolet Wayne looking at him. There was also a little more color thanusual in her cheeks, but her eyes were steady, which Tony's were not.
"I never expected you, Violet," he said. "You made me feel like a boycaught with his hand in the jam-pot. It's humiliating as well asludicrous!"
The girl smiled very faintly. "I am afraid it is," she said. "Do youknow, Tony, that this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life?"
Tony saw the slight trembling of her lips, and laughed somewhat inanelyas he held out his hands.
"I think I needed it!" he said; and in a sudden fit of rage seized theglass and, moving a few steps forward, flung it crashing into the grate.Then he turned and faced the girl, flushed to the forehead, but stirredto almost unwilling respect.
"There is not one woman of your station in a thousand who would have hadthe courage to do that," he said. "Still, it is preposterous to thinkthat there was the least reason for it."
"Tony," said the girl very slowly, "I fancy I should hate you if youever made it necessary for me to do as much again, but we will try notto remember it. What has been troubling you?"
Tony was glad of the opening, though under different circumstances hewould not have availed himself of it.
"I'll try to tell you," he said. "I am afraid Godfrey Palliser is veryshaky. In fact he was oppressively morbid to-night."
"No," said the girl. "I know what you mean, but morbid is not the rightword. Your uncle is now and then pedantic but one could only feelrespect for him to-day."
"Of course!" said Tony. "I shall be very genuinely sorry if his fanciesturn out right. That, however, is not the question. He asked me if Istill believed in Bernard, and I had a difficult thing to do. It seemsthat your faith in the man had almost convinced him. He wanted tobelieve him innocent, and leave him something in his will."
"And you told him--"
"What could I tell him? Only that I was not so sure of Bernard as I hadbeen."
There was a gleam of something very like anger in Violet Wayne's eyes."So you shattered the faint hope he clung to, and turned theforgiveness, which, mistaken or not, would have been a precious thingjust now, into vindictive bitterness!"
"He asked me," said Tony. "What could I do?"
"You could have defended your friend--the man who has done so much foryou."
Tony stared at her, and once more the girl felt a little shiver ofapprehension when she saw his face, but in a moment he recoveredhimself.
"I want to know exactly what you mean by that?" he said.
"Isn't it evident from what you have told me of your early days?"
Tony's apprehension disappeared, for it seemed he had been mistaken. "Ofcourse!" he said. "Still, the difficulty was that I couldn't urgeanything. I can't see why you believe in Bernard, Violet. Isn't it plainthat--it must have been either he or I?"
Tony was not devoid of a certain cunning, and the boldness of thequestion had its effect, but the girl's eyes gleamed as she said, "Icould almost as soon believe you guilty as Bernard Appleby."
"Then," said Tony with a quietness which served him very well, "I amsorry you have so little confidence in me!"
Violet stood still a moment, a trifle pale in face, and very erect. Thenshe made a little gesture, and her l
ips trembled.
"Tony," she said simply, "you will forgive me that, though I scarcelydeserve it. If I could have meant it would I have done--what I did alittle while ago?"
Tony caught her hands, and would have drawn her to him, but the girlshook off his grasp and slipped away, while the man stood still untilthe door closed behind her, and then shook his head.
"Angry yet!" he said. "If one could only understand her--but it's quitebeyond me, and I've no inclination for further worries of any kind justnow."
He turned towards the cupboard again, stopped a moment, and then, with alittle impatient gesture, went out of the room. He did not see Violetagain that night, and went to bed early, though it was long before heslept. It was early morning when he was awakened by the sound of a doorbeing opened suddenly and a hasty running up and down. In a few minutesthere were voices beneath him in the hall, while he huddled on hisclothes; and going out he stood a moment, irresolute, in the corridor. Aman who seemed to tread in a curious fashion was coming down the stairs,and passed apparently without noticing him. Then Tony gasped as theDarsley doctor he had sent for touched his arm, for he could see theman's face dimly in the faint gray light.
"Yes," said the doctor quietly, answering the unspoken question. "Inever expected it would come so suddenly, or I would have sent for you.Godfrey Palliser passed away ten minutes ago."