CHAPTER XVI.
Doctor Fox called to see his patient early next morning, so early thathe met Mr. Stafford and Carden coming down to breakfast.
"Well, how is the patient this morning?" he asked.
"I'm afraid you will have to go up-stairs to ascertain that," repliedMr. Stafford. "Oh yes! We inquired--" he added, noticing the curiousglance of the physician. "We inquired just now, but were told you werecoming early, and we could learn his condition from you."
"Sensible girl," said the doctor. "I will not keep you waiting long, Iimagine."
In two or three minutes the doctor reappeared and motioned them to comeup. At the door he cautioned them not to excite his patient adding--"Heis now fully conscious!"
This was pleasing news, even coupled with the doctor's proviso thatthere must be only a word.
Martin was awake and expecting them, and returned the warm clasp of hisfriends' hands. Kate sat somewhat in the background, smiling andlooking happy notwithstanding her all-night vigil in the sick room.When the doctor departed she was to exchange with her predecessor,Julia, for a few hours, by order of the doctor.
When the gentlemen descended to the bar and informed Mrs. Moran of this,she at once notified Julia, who proceeded to Martin's room only toreturn again in a few minutes.
The young lady was reading to Mr. Martin, she said, and would not wanther for half an hour.
"That's good!" commented Mrs. Moran, to whom the information wasconveyed. "She'll have him asleep by that time and you'll have nothingto do for awhile, so if you have any sewing or knitting ye better takeit with ye."
When Julia returned at the expiration of the half hour she found Mrs.Moran's prediction correct. Martin was asleep and Kate awaiting her.
As the doctor was about leaving he again warned Carden and Mr. Staffordagainst exciting Martin.
"Your friend," he said, "has some weighty matter on his mind. What it isI, of course, do not know. Possibly you may. But whatever it is, allreference to it must be avoided."
In view of this positive prohibition Carden remained silent regardingthe letter he received next day from Miss Fleming in relation to thelocket picture. He would have liked to have consulted Martin, but thisbeing impossible at present he decided to return at once to London, andfelt relieved to learn when about starting that his friend was asleep.Kate could explain or avoid explaining his absence better than he couldhimself.
At the Bow Street station Carden met Inspector Prime, and read to himthat part of Miss Fleming's letter relating to the locket.
After making careful note of this the inspector informed Carden thatBlount had returned and was working on an advertisement which hadappeared lately in the various London and Liverpool newspapers. He wouldhave Blount call at Carden's hotel that evening, as there might be somequestions to ask which did not occur to him (the inspector) at thattime.
As appointed, Blount called at the Bridge Hotel that evening. He hadonly seen Carden once and barely knew him, but knowing the friendshipexisting between Martin and Carden, had no reluctance about giving thelatter a detailed account of his work since leaving London for Dublinand Antwerp.
On reaching Dublin he found without the slightest trouble that Mr. Hallhad just returned from Antwerp, but the most thorough search inAmsterdam--that city of diamond dealers and cutters--whence he had gonefrom Antwerp, failed to show that Hall had had dealings with any ofthem. He did find that a man answering Hall's description had beenthere--but that was all.
Blount then showed Carden the two advertisements, at the same timeinforming him that he knew them to be Hall's.
"You see--he's getting anxious!" said Blount. "In the second he names aspecific sum--and quite a large one too. Then again, he omits referenceto that mysterious undergarment. I expect to receive full informationregarding the missing property to-night. The chambermaid and his valetwhom he engaged in Dublin, both belong to us. Yes," he continued, notingCarden's surprise, "yes, they both belong to us, and yet I don't believewe could stop him if he wished to leave the country to-morrow."
"Then you don't regard this locket affair as of much importance?" askedCarden, very much disappointed.
"Not alone. You see, Mr. Carden, he frankly acknowledges that he foundit and lately lost it. It may have been stolen or lost from the chain.Still taken in connection with other points, it may prove of thegreatest importance."
Shortly after Blount left to meet Hall's valet, and Carden made a flyingvisit to Hanley Hall. They arranged to meet the following day, for thepurpose of informing Carden, up to the last moment before he returned toIreland, of what had occurred.
Carden arrived late and was surprised to find that neither Mrs. Staffordnor Miss Fleming had retired. The former look troubled and the latterhad evidently been trying to console her.
Carden soon learned the cause of the trouble. A letter from Hall to Mrs.Stafford had been received that evening. It enclosed another to Mr.Stafford, which she was requested to forward to him. The letter to Mr.Stafford was unsealed--probably left so purposely--and Mrs. Stafford,unfortunately for her peace of mind, read it.
The letter set forth in plain terms that the writer had returned fromIreland for the purpose of marrying Kate Stafford, and with theexpectation of finding everything ready for the marriage; whereas, onhis arrival, he not only found no preparations being made, but fatherand daughter were gone on an indefinite visit.
Mr. Stafford could take his choice of seeing the engagement fulfilledat once, or of having the overdue mortgages held by Hall foreclosed andHanley Hall in the possession of a stranger.
Mrs. Stafford was in great distress. It was the first intimation she hadreceived of her husband's financial troubles, and a woman almostinvariably loses her head in anything of that kind.
Carden's arrival was most fortunate. Finding his aunt knew nothing ofthe matter, he told her he would take charge of the letter, as he wasreturning to Ireland next day, and assured her there was no occasion toworry. Finding it impossible to convince her in regard to this, hefinally revealed what he had intended to keep secret until after hismarriage to Miss Fleming; namely, that since meeting Martin he hadbecome very wealthy.
"And Aunt," he continued, "Dick--I mean Mr. Martin, could buy the placetwice over, so don't worry! He has risked his life for mine, and if mymoney is not sufficient I know his is at my command. As for this fellow,I shall write to him for you that as the time for the marriage has notarrived he need not complain. When the time comes he will findeverything prepared!"
Carden's words did much to reassure Mrs. Stafford, and she retired in afairly good frame of mind. Miss Fleming accompanied her, pausing at thedoor to shake her finger threateningly at her disconsolate lover.
Next morning, immediately after breakfast, and after a short but not allstormy interview with Miss Fleming, Carden left for London.
At Bow Street he found that nothing had been heard from Blount since theprevious day. Being anxious to get back to Naas, Carden left a note forBlount and started at once for Liverpool.