CHAPTER XII.
Martin was a little disappointed regarding the value of his discovery.He had expected to learn from Miss Fleming something about Hall. Still,he had found an important link in the chain, and on his arrival inLondon sought the inspector from whom he had secured Blount's services.
It was late at night--or rather early morning--and everything beingquiet, Inspector Prime was rather glad than otherwise to see Martin. Thelatter related the finding of the locket, and the subsequent finding ofthe original of the photograph in it.
The inspector listened attentively. He considered it an important pieceof evidence and said as much, but counselled waiting for news fromBlount. Hall was under surveillance, and there was no danger of hisslipping through their fingers again. Meantime he would put a "goodwoman" into Hall's late residence in Harley Street--as chambermaid.Through her everything there belonging to Hall could be examined withoutexciting suspicion.
Martin did not reach his hotel until daylight, and did not arise untillate in the day. On descending to the office he was agreeably surprisedto find a letter from Blount. The contents, however, were notencouraging. Blount was unable to find any trace of Hall, as yet, butdid not despair of doing so.
Martin immediately communicated with Blount by telegraph, telling him hehad discovered the original of the locket picture.
This being done Martin had apparently reached the end of his tether.What to do with himself he did not know, but he would not go back toHanley Hall, for feeling reasonably certain of finally proving his caseagainst Hall, and being determined to follow it up, he did not care tomeet Kate. That she must have some regard for Hall seemed onlynatural--otherwise why the engagement.
For want of something else to do, Martin sought Inspector Prime andlearned that he, too, had heard from Blount.
"I can't stand this infernal idleness," said Martin during theconversation. "If I felt certain of catching Blount at Antwerp Iwould----"
"Why not take a trip to Dublin?" interrupted the inspector. "You willhave to act carefully, however, and do just as O'Brien, the detectivethere, bids you. Does this Hall know you?"
"I think not. He met me once at Hanley Hall, but under circumstanceswhich would probably leave no impression of my appearance on his mind."
"Well, you might go there to relieve the monotony of waiting--but becareful!"
Within a few hours Martin was crossing the Channel, and on arriving inDublin found, on presenting a letter from Inspector Prime, that Hall,and his shadow, O'Brien, were at Naas, in Kildare, where it wasunderstood the former was about buying considerable property, and afterspending the day in Dublin, Martin proceeded to Naas.
At the "Blessert Arms," the best of the two inns in Naas, Martin foundO'Brien, to whom he had a letter from Dublin.
There was nothing to report, O'Brien told him, except that Hall was wellsupplied with money, which he spent freely; that he had made many goodfriends, and was negotiating for the purchase of an estate in thevicinity.
"Does he live here?" asked Martin.
"Yes--whenever he can get away from his friends. To-day, and for thepast two days, he's been off thirty mile from here shooting."
"But how the deuce can you keep track of him there?" exclaimed Martin,in angry surprise. "I understood he was never out of your sight orreach!"
"Be easy now, Mr. Martin. He's not out of either my sight or reach, foron my recommendation he engaged my partner, Jim Farrel, as his valet.Jim wired me just a hour ago that they will be back to-night."
O'Brien smiled just a little triumphantly as he finished, and thenpretending not to notice Martin's confusion, continued:
"You see, Mr. Martin, I formed the acquaintance of our friend almost assoon as he arrived in Dublin, and I've cultivated that acquaintance withgreat success ever since. I am here by his invitation, but my pride--Iam a gentleman in somewhat reduced circumstances, d'ye mind--my pridewill not permit of my mingling very much in the sport which he is nowenjoying, and in which he at first insisted I should join him."
The two gazed for a moment at each other as the detective finished. ThenMartin extended his hand:
"I don't suppose there's any use of saying anything," he said, smilingruefully at his own discomfiture.
"No more than there is necessity," responded O'Brien, heartily. "Come!Let's take a drop of something!" and after giving the order continued:"That reminds me of something--our friend, I am happy to say, isbeginning to drink heavily."
Martin looked inquiringly, and O'Brien exclaimed:
"It shows he's growing either careless or desperate, for he dranknothing in Dublin, and something's bound to come of it."
Hall, together with several friends, arrived that evening. All were inhigh spirits, because, perhaps, as O'Brien explained to Martin, "theyhad a fair quantity inside of them."
The party proceeded at once to Hall's rooms, where wine and whiskey wereordered freely until late in the night, when they adjourned to the bar.Martin was standing with one elbow resting on the bar, his hand underhis chin and his feet crossed, when they entered. Hall, who was quitedrunk, either accidentally or in bravado knocked up against him andalmost threw him off his feet. Martin was not in a happy mood, andangrily demanded what he meant; but even as he spoke, seeing Hall'scondition, turned away.
The latter was not too drunk to catch the contempt expressed by the lookand the action, and angrily insisted that Martin should listen to him,but instead Martin walked slowly away as if about to leave the room. Hehad not gone five paces before Hall was after him and struck him withhis walking-stick. The blow, if it could be called a blow, for Hall wasbarely able to lift the stick, was the last straw--Martin's patience wasexhausted. Turning on Hall like an enraged lion, he lifted him bodilyand threw him half the length of the room--the flying body coming downwith a crash amidst the chairs and tables along the wall.
Hall did not move, and as his friends picked him up someone said he wasdead, and suggested detaining Martin, who, after lighting a cigar,walked out and off through the country for five miles. When he returnedhe had walked off his excitement, and enjoyed a good night's rest.
Martin paid no further attention to the matter, and laughed at O'Brienwhen the latter next day spoke of further trouble; but that evening agentleman called upon him with a message from Mr. Hall demanding anapology, as public as the injury, or a duel!
At first Martin laughed at the idea, but his caller was an Irishman,very gentlemanly, very pleasant, but also very determined that hisfriend should have either one or the other, with the preference largelyin favor of the duel. Mr. Martin must recognize the fact that he(Martin) was a big, powerful fellow, while his friend was comparativelya small man; and while it was true there had been a little trouble, thepunishment was very largely in excess of the provocation. Moreover, theaffair having been so public, he could hardly see how Mr. Hall should besatisfied with an apology--but, then, that was not his affair.
The upshot of the conversation was that Martin allowed himself to bebadgered into saying he had a friend in the inn to whom he would referthe matter, and Captain Carroll having accomplished his object, departedwith a satisfied smile and a pleasant "good-evening."
"I ought to have pitched the fellow out of the window! But I'll behanged if you could be angry with him, you would think it was a marriageinstead of a possible funeral he was arranging," said Martin, as heexplained the affair shortly after to O'Brien, adding: "Is it possiblethis thing cannot be ignored? It seems ridiculous!"
"Yes, you might take the next train for Dublin," replied O'Brien,quietly, "otherwise you may as well make up your mind to fight, forCarroll will leave no loophole open for an amicable settlement. Hedelights in fighting himself, and would die of mortification if anyaffair he was engaged in should be settled without going out."
Martin swore he would not run, neither would he fight, but the man whointerfered with him would remember and regret it, if he lived longenough; but in the end submitted to "the custom of the country," andO'Brien cal
led on Captain Carroll that very evening.