CHAPTER XVII.
The main cause of the letter received by Mrs. Stafford was a scheminglittle attorney named Jacobs, who just managed to keep within the paleof the law, and over whom Hall held powerful influence. At the end ofthe second week's advertising Hall consulted Jacobs pretty freely inregard to his affairs, telling him that important papers, including awill bequeathing considerable property to the lady to whom he wasengaged to be married, had been stolen from him; that he had offeredevery inducement for the return of the stolen property without avail,and did not expect that they would ever come to light; that as a matterof fact the receptacle in which the papers were concealed would not beapt to reveal their presence, and the thief or thieves had probablythrown it away as worthless.
Mr. Jacobs inquired how his client had arrived at this conclusion, andwas informed that five times the value of the articles taken had beenoffered for their return.
Mr. Hall did not, of course, tell Jacobs _all_ he knew. They would havebeen on equal footing had he done so, and could hang each other; butwhen he had finished as much as he cared to tell, Mr. Jacobs assured himthat the loss of the papers, under the circumstances, would make nogreat difference. It would cause more trouble and expense--not a greatdeal--but as Hall knew almost the exact wording of it (the will) and asone of the witnesses, a man who made his mark instead of writing hisname, was still alive there would be no trouble in proving a similarwill which he (Jacobs) could get up--of course for a moderateconsideration.
Jacobs talked plausibly--in fact almost the exact truth, and finallyHall wrote the letter mentioned in the last chapter.
Immediately on receipt of Mrs. Stafford's answer, written by Carden asthough at her dictation, Hall proceeded to prepare for his wedding--hisfirst act by way of preparation being to direct Jacobs to go ahead andprepare the will, giving him a pencil draft, with names and placesblank.
The time fixed for the wedding was but ten days off, and Hall's secondact of preparation was in the way of retrenchment. He discharged hisvalet--who immediately reported the fact to Blount--and then instructedMessrs. Jones & Jones to close out his interest in the Hanley Hallmortgages for whatever they would bring, deducting six months' interest.He held just two, amounting together to L5,000, and the Messrs. Jonesfound a purchaser in short order at two-thirds of the facevalue--themselves.
He was now in possession of considerable ready money, the prospect aheadlooked bright, and it only required fairly good luck for a few days andhe would be sharer in, if not sole possessor of, immense wealth. Theplain blunt letter from Carden reassured him as to the intentions of theStaffords, and he became once more the calm, elegant gentleman that hewas at the time of his first appearance at Hanley Hall.
He was beginning to believe that the stolen papers would not come tolight again, as he had told Jacobs, and there was nothing to bother himbut the loss of his money--for it may as well be stated that Hall hadlost a very large sum in notes, together with a large draft, on thenight of the robbery. The draft was now overdue and Hall had managed tofind out that it had not been presented for payment. For obvious reasonshe had not attempted to stop payment, but the fact that it had not beenpresented did much to strengthen his belief that the draft, togetherwith the papers with which it was hidden, were lost or destroyed.
True, he had ugly thoughts and ugly dreams at times, and had at alltimes a vague idea of being dogged; but now the excitement of the biggame he was playing kept his thoughts pretty well engaged during theday, and whiskey ensured relief from them at night. The strain was aheavy one, however, and his nerves were by no means as steady as when hewas introduced to the reader. Neither whiskey nor crimes make good nervefood.
Three days before that set for the wedding Hall's shattered nervesreceived a severe shock. He was in a restaurant which he frequentedevenings, and overheard the following conversation:--
"I say, George! Did you hear about that thing at Baring's to-day?"
"Can't say! What was it?"
"A fellow who was afterwards recognized as a notorious thief presented adraft for some large amount--I've forgotten what it was--but at allevents the cashier had been expecting it for over a week and the delayin presenting it kept the thing fresh in his mind--worried him, youknow. Well, to cut it short, he asked some question or other and theanswer made him rather suspicious. So instead of paying the draft hesignalled one of their detectives; who immediately recognized the fellowand took him in custody. They're trying now to find the owner of thedraft."
The conversation ended here, the two young men, bank clerks evidently,having finished eating.
Hall sat for a short time debating what he should do, and decided thatfor a short time he had better quit the country. He did not care tobecome prominent in the public view just at present. If things wentright he could afford to lose the money--and right or wrong, it was notsafe to claim it. Indeed, if the matter was followed further than thebankers who sold the draft, it was pretty certain to be found that itwas the proceeds of the sale of diamonds.
Again, if the thief confessed where and how he had obtained the draft,he (Hall) was bound to come prominently into view. So, on the whole,Hall thought it best to quit the country for a while.
His nervousness on reaching Harley Street was so marked that thechamber-maid paid particular attention while he informed his landladythat he must leave town that night. Business of great importancedemanded his presence on the Continent--and before Hall had finishedpacking-up Mr. Blount was waiting for him across the street.
Hall wrote a couple letters before starting, one being to Mrs. Staffordrequesting that she should notify her husband and Kate that owing tobusiness of the utmost importance and urgency the wedding must bepostponed. As soon as he reached his destination he would be in positionto say when he would be able to return.
Hall mailed the letters in the first box he came across, hailed a cab,and was driven rapidly to the Euston Square station. Blount was notprepared for this move, but caught the order "Euston Square," andcatching the first hansom that came along followed as fast as possible.
At Euston Square sharp inquiry elicited the fact pretty surely that Hallhad bought a ticket for Dover, and Blount caught the next train arrivingthree hours later--for the same place.
Blount was not particularly worried about missing Hall, feeling sure hisman had gone to Dover, and knowing what the latter had probablyforgotten--that there was no boat until late next day.
At the first hotel in Dover he found Hall registered, and after makingsure he had really retired, sat up with the clerk all night--there wouldbe no such slip this time as was made at Liverpool.
It was quite late when Hall made his appearance next morning, but Blountnever stirred until he saw him enter the dining-room. Then he, too,entered and made a meal, timed to finish exactly with Hall's.
Hall went to his room and did not leave it until late in the afternoon.He then proceeded to the dock, bought a ticket for Calais, and was aboutto board the steamer when Blount tapped him on the shoulder:
"You can't leave, Mr. Hall!" he said.
Hall turned quickly and asked "Why not?"
"Because I have a warrant for your arrest."
"For what?" demanded Hall, turning color.
"Duelling! Your opponent is badly hurt and you must come back to London.If you wish to see the warrant here you can do so, but it will be betterto come back to the hotel. I can show it there to yourself--here itwould create excitement."