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@@ -1,39 +1,4 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Tempest-Driven (Vol. III of 3), by Richard Dowling - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Tempest-Driven (Vol. III of 3) - A Romance - -Author: Richard Dowling - -Release Date: May 20, 2013 [EBook #42752] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEMPEST-DRIVEN (VOL. III OF 3) *** - - - - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the -Web Archive (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) - - - - - - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42752 *** Transcriber's Note: @@ -351,7 +316,7 @@ important matter----" whole time. I'm not a cot-man. Look here: you know it's only a few of the greatest minds that can attend to two things at the one time. You can't give your soul to fish and yet devote yourself to cows at the -one moment, except you are a person like Julius Caesar. He could +one moment, except you are a person like Julius Cæsar. He could dictate and write completely different things at the one time." "Could he? He must have been very clever." @@ -4310,359 +4275,4 @@ Mrs. Davenport: the doctors had pronounced her hopelessly insane. End of Project Gutenberg's Tempest-Driven (Vol. III of 3), by Richard Dowling -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEMPEST-DRIVEN (VOL. 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Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Tempest-Driven (Vol. III of 3) - A Romance - -Author: Richard Dowling - -Release Date: May 20, 2013 [EBook #42752] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEMPEST-DRIVEN (VOL. III OF 3) *** - - - - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the -Web Archive (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) - - - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Note: - - 1. Page scan source: - http://archive.org/details/tempestdrivenrom02dowl - (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) - - - - - - - TEMPEST-DRIVEN. - - - - - - - TEMPEST-DRIVEN - - A Romance. - - - - - BY - - RICHARD DOWLING, - - AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF KILLARD," "THE WEIRD SISTERS," - "THE SPORT OF FATE," "UNDER ST. PAUL'S," "THE DUKE'S SWEETHEART," - "SWEET INISFAIL," "THE HIDDEN FLAME," ETC. - - - - - _IN THREE VOLUMES_. - - VOL. III. - - - - - - LONDON: - TINSLEY BROTHERS, 8 CATHERINE ST., STRAND. - 1886. - - [_All rights reserved_.] - - - - - - - CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS, - CRYSTAL PLACE PRESS. - - - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER XXXII. - -SALMON AND COWS. - - - CHAPTER XXXIII. - -A FORTUNE LOST. - - - CHAPTER XXXIV. - -A TELEGRAM FROM THE MAIL. - - - CHAPTER XXXV. - -THE TRAVELLERS. - - - CHAPTER XXXVI. - -SOLICITOR AND CLIENT. - - - CHAPTER XXXVII. - -THE WIDOW'S THEORY OF THE CASE. - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII. - -"WHERE'ER I CAME I BROUGHT CALAMITY." - - - CHAPTER XXXIX. - -A COMPACT. - - - CHAPTER XL. - -AN EXPEDITION PROPOSED. - - - CHAPTER XLI. - -AT THE WHALE'S MOUTH. - - - CHAPTER XLII. - -THE RED CAVE. - - - CHAPTER XLIII. - -A RETROSPECT. - - - CHAPTER XLIV. - -A LAST APPEAL. - - - CHAPTER XLV. - -BEYOND THE VEIL. - - - CHAPTER XLVI. - -AN EVENING WALK. - - - CHAPTER XLVII. - -CONCLUSION. - - - - - - - TEMPEST-TOSSED - - - - - CHAPTER XXXII. - - SALMON AND COWS. - - -Luncheon that day at Carlingford House was a quiet, subdued meal. -Edith Paulton, who was very small and vivacious, better-looking than -Madge, and distinguished by shrewd discontent rather than the -amiability which radiated from her elder sister, was the only one at -the table that made an effort at being sprightly. Although she was not -unsympathetic, she had a much more keen appreciation of her own -annoyances and troubles than those of others. She took great liberties -with her good-natured father and mother, and treated her brother as if -he were a useless compound of slave, fool, and magnanimous mastiff. -She was by no means wanting in affection, but she hated displays of -sentiment, and felt desperately inclined to laugh on grave occasions. - -That day, when the two girls left the back room, they went straight to -Madge's, where they talked over the arrival of Jerry O'Brien, for whom -Edith strongly suspected Madge had a warmer feeling than friendship, -and who, she felt morally certain, greatly to her secret delight, was -over head and ears in love with Madge. The only human being in whom -she had infinite faith was Madge. She did not consider any hero or -conqueror of history good enough for her sister. To her mind, there -was only one flaw in Madge: Madge would not worship Madge. Madge -thought every one else in the world of consequence but herself. Edith -thought Madge the only absolutely perfect person living, or that ever -had lived--leaving out, of course, the important defect just -mentioned. The younger girl had, in human affairs, a certain hardness -and common-sense plainness which shocked the more sensitive sister. -For instance, she could not see anything at all pathetic in Mrs. -Davenport's situation. - -Before the bell rang for luncheon, she said to her sister: - -"I can't for the life of me see what is so terribly melancholy in Mrs. -Davenport's case. I think she got out of it rather well. She didn't -care anything for that dreadful old man who poisoned himself out of -some horrid kind of spite. She hasn't been put in prison, and he left -her a whole lot of money. So that as she isn't exactly an old maid, or -a grandmother, she can marry any other horrid old man she likes. Oh, -yes; I know she's very beautiful, and what you call young, Madge. -She's not fifty yet, I suppose. Every woman _is_ young now until she's -forty or fifty; and as to men, they don't seem to grow old now at any -age. As long as a man doesn't use crutches, they say he is in the full -vigour of manhood--that he's not marriageable until he's gray, and -bald, and deaf of one ear, or can't read even with glasses. I suppose -father will make her stop for dinner. I thought I'd laugh outright -when I saw him go to her and call her 'child.' Child! Fancy calling a -widow _child!_ If ever he calls me child again, I'll tell him, as far -as I know, I have not buried any husband yet. But, Madge, if she -_does_ stop for dinner, I'm not going to sit there and learn the very -latest thing in the manners of widows. I'll go out for a walk after -luncheon. Do you know, I think Jerry O'Brien is half in love with this -beautiful widow! I'll ask him to come with me, I will; and you, -good-natured fool, may sit within and catch the airs and graces of -early widowhood, though I don't think they'll ever be of any use to -you. You're certain to die an old maid. Alfred can't keep his eyes off -her. It's a pity we haven't that nice Mr. Blake here--her old -sweetheart. There, Madge, I don't mean a word I say, especially about -Jerry O'Brien. I know he's madly in love with me. I'm going to give -him a chance of proposing this evening. We'll walk as far as the -Palace, and if you get separated from us, and see me holding my -umbrella out from my side on two fingers--this way--just don't come -near us, and you shall be my bridesmaid, and Jerry shall give you a -present of a bracelet representing a brazen widow sitting on a silver -salmon. There's the bell! Madge, love, I'm not a beast, only a brute. -There!--I won't be rude again, and I'll try and rather like Mrs. -Davenport. She'll be a neighbour of mine, you know, when I'm married -to Jerry. I think I'll call him _Jer_ then." - -After luncheon, Mrs. Paulton suggested that Mrs. Davenport should lie -down, as she must be quite worn out. But the latter would not consent -to this. She said she felt quite refreshed, and in no need of rest, as -she had slept well the previous night--although some memory of the -Channel passage was in her brain, and the sound of the railway journey -in her ears. - -The evening was fine. Neither Mrs. Davenport nor Alfred cared for a -walk when it was suggested by Edith, but Jerry said he would like it -of all things; so he and the two sisters set off down the fine, broad, -prosperous-looking Dulwich Road, in the direction of the Crystal -Palace. - -It is proverbially a small world, and the three pedestrians had not -gone many hundred yards when whom should they see but Nellie Cahill, -one of the firm friends and confidantes of the Paulton girls. Before -the three came up with Miss Cahill, Edith gave a brief and graphic -sketch of her to Jerry, who had not had the pleasure of meeting her -before. She was good-looking, good-humoured, jolly, a dear old thing, -mad as a March hare, true as steel, and last, though not least, -interesting to him--a fellow country-woman of his, as her name -betokened. - -He must be introduced to her. He must like her awfully. He must love -her, if it came to that, unless, indeed, that slow coach Alfred had -been before him--in which case he, Jerry, was to be exceedingly -obliging and deferential; for any one would rather have a nice girl -like Nellie for a sister-in-law than a thousand widows. - -Jerry was duly introduced, and said civil things and silly things, and -the four walked on all abreast, until Edith suddenly remembered that -she had to tell Nellie all about the reappearance of Mrs. Davenport, -and a lot of other matters, in which two sober, steady-going, -middle-aged people like Madge and Jerry could, by no stress of -imagination, be supposed to take a sensible and hilarious interest. So -the younger division of the party, comprised of Nellie Cahill and -Edith Paulton, fell to the rear, and the other division kept the -front. And thus, in spite of all Edith's designs on Jerry both for -herself and Nellie, these two enterprising and eminently desirable and -lovable young ladies lost all chance of his offering marriage to -either that afternoon. - -A long story of the detestable villainy of the Fishery Commissioners -had to be first and foremost related to Madge. Considering that she -did not know what a weir was, and had never seen a salmon except on -the table or the marble slab of a fish-shop, and that according to her -notion the appearance of a Commissioner was something between a -beefeater of the Tower of London and a Brighton boatman, she listened -with great patience, and made remarks which caused Jerry to laugh -sometimes, and plunge into profound technicalities at others. But it -became quite plain that Jerry himself did not take any consuming -interest in his own wrongs and the refined ruffianism of the -Commissioners; for at a most bewildering description of the channel, -and the draught of water, and the set of tides, and the idiosyncrasies -of coal barges, he looked over his shoulder and, finding Edith and her -friend a good way behind, stopped suddenly in his discourse and said: - -"Madge, I've been reeling off a lot of rubbish to you just to drop the -others a good bit astern. I now want to say something very serious to -you. Are you listening?" - -"Yes; but look at that cow! Did you ever see a more contented-looking -creature in all your life?" - -She kept her face turned towards the hedge. - -"Confound the cow!" he cried. "Do you think I am going to give up -talking of Bawn salmon and barges, and talk about Dulwich cows? Are -you listening?" - -"I am. But did you--now--did you ever see such a lovely cow?" - -"Look here, Madge: If this is reprisal for my harangue about my -miserable salmon weirs, I'll not say another word about them. Are you -going to be friends with me?" - -"Yes--of course." - -Still the cow occupied her eyes, to judge by the way her head was -turned. - -"I came out expressly to have a most serious talk with you on a most -important matter----" - -"I am sure I was very sorry to hear about your salmon nets----" - -"Nets! Nets! Good heavens, Madge!--I never said a word about nets the -whole time. I'm not a cot-man. Look here: you know it's only a few of -the greatest minds that can attend to two things at the one time. You -can't give your soul to fish and yet devote yourself to cows at the -one moment, except you are a person like Julius Cæsar. He could -dictate and write completely different things at the one time." - -"Could he? He must have been very clever." - -"Will you give up the cow? I want to talk of another beast." - -"Trout?" - -"No, not trout. Trout isn't a beast. If you're clever and smart, and -that kind of thing, I won't talk about my beast." - -"What is your beast?" - -"A fool." - -"Oh!" - -"Are you not curious to know who the fool is?" - -"There are so many, one cannot be interested in all." - -"No; but you are interested in this one." - -Silence. - -"I say you are interested in Alfred." - -"Alfred!" She looked quickly round for the first time since the cow -had attracted her attention. Her colour was vivid, and her breath came -short. "Alfred a fool!" - -"Yes; he's hit--badly hit." - -"You don't think him ill?"--in alarm. The colour faded quickly. - -"I think him very bad." - -"His brain again. Oh, do tell me!"--pleadingly. - -"No. He told me all in the front room to-day. It's his heart this -time." - -"His heart?" - -"Yes. Love." - -"Love! In love with whom?" - -"I forget." - -"You forget whom he is in love with?" - -"Yes. Another matter has put it out of my head. Madge, I'm a fool too. -You needn't turn away. There are no more cows, Madge. Give up the -salmon and cows, Madge, and have me instead! Will you, Madge? Give me -your hand.... Thank you, love. Madge!" - -"Yes." - -"The other two have turned back. There is no one else in the road. May -I kiss you?" - -She looked over her shoulder on the side away from him. Then she -looked at him.... - -"Thank you, darling. Let us turn back. I have touched the limits of my -happiest road. Madge!" - -"Yes." - -"Yes, Jerry. Say 'Yes, Jerry.'" - -"Yes, Jerry." - -"That's better. I won't kiss you again until we get into the house. Do -you think you can last out till then?" - -"I--I think so, Jerry." - -"That's right. Cultivate self-denial and obedience. You don't think it -is respectable for a man to kiss his sweetheart on a public road?" - -"No." - -"That's right. Cultivate self-denial and obedience, but chiefly -obedience. Don't you think it is the duty of woman to cultivate -obedience chiefly?" - -"I do." - -"And if I asked it, you would, out of obedience to me, trample -self-denial under foot?" - -"Certainly, Jerry, if you wished it." - -"I do. Oh, my Madge--my darling--my gentle love! Once more." - -"But Edith has turned round and sees us.... And my hat--you have -knocked off my hat.... Thanks. Now pick up my hair-pin. It fell with -the hat. What will Edith think?" - -"I'll tell her. I'll tell Edith quite plainly it was your -self-restraint gave way, not mine." - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIII. - - A FORTUNE LOST. - - -That day settled many things. Alfred had told O'Brien that no matter -how unwise or rash it might seem, he had made up his mind to try his -fate with Mrs. Davenport--not, of course, at that time, perhaps not -very soon, but ultimately, and as soon as possible. - -Until that day--until he had seen her moved by the sense of her own -loneliness, until he had seen the tears start into her eyes--he had -not said even to himself that he loved her. He told himself over and -over again that he would risk his prospects, his life, his honour for -her. How his prospects or life could be imperilled he did not know, -did not care. He had a modest fortune of his own, and her husband had -left her the bulk of his great wealth. He would have preferred her -poor rather than rich. But if she would marry him, he would not allow -the fact that she had money to stand in the way of his happiness. She -had for a while, owing to circumstances in which no blame attached to -her, found herself labouring under a hideous suspicion. From the -shadow of that suspicion she had emerged without blemish. She had been -cruelly ill-used by fate, but it had been shown she was blameless. -Where, then, could danger to his honour lie? Her beauty was -undeniable; her family unexceptionable. She had been sold to an old -man by a venal lover. In this lurked no disgrace to her. What could -his father or mother find in her to object to? Nothing--absolutely -nothing. That day his father and mother showed great pleasure in -seeing her again. His father had suggested--nay, arranged--that he -should accompany her on that long journey to Ireland. - -When Jerry O'Brien left Carlingford House that afternoon, he had no -intention of asking Madge to be his wife. All the way from Kilbarry to -London he had been assuring himself that nothing could be more -injudicious than to say anything to her on the subject at present. He -believed she was not indifferent to him. Little actions and words of -hers had given him cause to hope. He was sure she preferred him to any -other man in whose society he had ever seen her. She had smiled and -coloured at his approach, and once or twice, when he had ventured to -press her hand, he had suffered no reproach by word or look. All this -made it only the more necessary for him to be on guard and not allow -himself to be betrayed into a declaration until his affairs were -settled. But the opportunity came, and he could not resist the -temptation of telling her he loved her, and of hearing from her that -he was loved by her. It is true no word had been said between them of -an engagement even. The mere formality of speech was nothing. -Practically he had asked her to be his wife, and she had plainly given -him to understand she was willing to marry him. - -Madge got back to the house in a state of bewildered excitement. She -confided nothing to her sister, and Edith behaved very well, never -showing even a trace of curiosity or slyness. She persisted in talking -of the most everyday topic. She wondered whether Miss Grant, the -dressmaker, would keep her word?--whether this would be as bad a year -for roses as last? She was of opinion the cold weather would not -return. Nellie Cahill had told her the new play at the Ben Jonson was -a complete failure, in spite of all said to the contrary, and so on. -Madge replied in monosyllables or vacant laughs. When the girls got -home, each went to her own room, and they did not meet again until -dinner time. Madge decided she had no occasion to speak to her mother, -or any one else, about what occurred on the Dulwich Road. It would be -time enough to speak when Jerry said something more definite to her, -or when either her father or mother spoke to her. - -Jerry sought Alfred, whom he found alone in the library. He had been -carried beyond himself that afternoon, and did not feel in the -position to administer to his friend a lecture on prudence. Alfred was -of full age, and, in the way of money, independent of his father. Let -him do as he pleased and take his chance, as any other man must in -similar circumstances. He himself, for instance, would take advice in -his love affair from neither Fishery Commissioners nor John O'Hanlon. - -"How far did you go?" asked Alfred, who looked flushed, radiant. He -got up and began walking slowly about the room. - -"Oh, a little beyond the College. It isn't a very pleasant day out of -doors. We met an old flame of yours--Miss Cahill." - -"Miss Cahill an old flame of mine! Why, I never was more than civil to -the girl in all my life! Who invented that story for you?" - -"I don't think it was pure invention. Edith mentioned it to us." - -"'To us!' Good heavens, you don't mean to say she said anything of the -kind in Miss Cahill's presence?" - -"Well, no--not exactly in her presence, but when she was near us. How -did you get on since?" - -Jerry's object was to keep the conversation in his own hands, and -prevent Alfred asking questions. To-morrow, when they were both clear -of London, he might take his friend into his confidence, but not now. - -"Oh, dully enough," answered Alfred, with a look of disappointment. -"My father went out, my mother is busy about the house, and Mrs. -Davenport is in her room. She will, I hope, be able to come down to -dinner. You don't think, Jerry," he asked, anxiously, while he paused -before his friend, "that her health has suffered by all she has gone -through?" - -"No; but I am quite sure your peace of mind has," replied Jerry, with -a dry smile. - -With all his desire to be conciliatory, he could not wholly curb his -tongue. - -"I," laughed the other, "was never happier in all my life. Why, only -to think that she is under this roof now, and that we are going on a -long journey with her to-morrow, and that I am to be near her for a -whole month! It's too good to be true." - -"I hope not." - -"Well, Jerry, I hope not too; but it seems too good. I know you are -one of those men who never give way to their feelings until they know -exactly whither their feelings are taking them. It isn't every one who -has such complete self-command as you. I am willing to risk everything -in the world for a woman. Some men are too cautious to risk anything." - -"There's a good deal of truth and a good deal of rubbish in what you -say," rejoined Jerry, colouring slightly, and concealing his face from -his companion by going to the window and looking out at the evergreens -and leafless trees in the front garden. - -Alfred's last speech had not been exactly a chance shot. He more than -guessed Jerry cared a good deal for Madge; but the tone of the other -had exasperated him, and he made an effort to compel silence, if not -sympathy, from him. Jerry was not prepared to retort. He did not want -to deny or assert his own susceptibility to the unconscious arts of -any woman; and, above all, he did not wish Madge's name to be -introduced even casually. - -At last dinner came. It was an informal, a substantial, cosy meal. No -special preparations had been made for the guests. There was no -display, no stint, no profusion. Jerry sat beside Madge, and Alfred -between Edith and Mrs. Davenport. Jerry was the most taciturn--Madge -the most demure of the party. Mr. Paulton was chatty, cordial, and -particularly gracious to the widow. Mrs. Davenport was polite, -impassable, absent-minded. - -When they were waiting for the joint, Mr. Paulton turned to Jerry, and -said: - -"Are you depressed at the prospect of spending a while with an -invalid? To look at you both, one would think it was you, not Alfred, -who wants change of air." - -"And so it is," said Jerry, stealing a look at Madge. - -In order to divert attention from her, for she felt her face growing -hot, she said: - -"I believe the south of Ireland is very mild?" - -"Oh, very!" Jerry answered, with startling vivacity. "It's the mildest -climate in the world; but the people are not particularly mild: they -are full of fire and fight. I have no doubt Alfred will come back a -regular Milesian. You know those who live a while in Ireland always -become more Irish than the Irish." - -"Never mind," said Mrs. Paulton. "He may become as Irish as he likes -if he at the same time grows as well in health as we like." - -"I intend coming back quite a Goliath, mother. I shall eat and drink -everything I see," said Alfred gaily. - -"You would find some of the things in the neighbourhood of Kilcash -rather hard to chew. I think Mrs. Davenport will agree with me that it -would take Goliath a long time to make a comfortable meal of the Black -Rock, or to make a comfortable meal on it?" - -At the name of the Rock, Mrs. Davenport looked up and shuddered -visibly, and said, as she rested slightly on the back of her chair: - -"The Black Rock is a hideous place." - -Then, turning to Alfred: "You must not go there." - -"I am altogether in the hands of this unprincipled wretch," answered -Alfred, smiling and nodding at Jerry. - -"Then," said Jerry, "if you are not very civil--if you show a -disposition to exhibit your Goliath-like prowess on me, I shall take -you to the Black Rock, and first frighten the life out of you, and -then throw you into the Puffing Hole, where, except you are the ghost -of your own grandfather, or something equally monstrous, you will be -promptly smashed into ten billions of invisible atoms." - -The rest of the dinner passed off quietly. When the dessert had been -put on the table, and the servants had withdrawn, Mr. Paulton said: - -"Mr. O'Brien, I have often heard you talk of this Black Rock and the -Puffing Hole, but I am afraid I never had the industry to ask you for -a description of either. Are they very wonderful?" - -"There is nothing wonderful about the Rock, except its extent and -peculiar shape and colour. But the Puffing Hole, although not unique, -is curious and terrible." - -"I am doubly interested in them now, since I have the pleasure of -numbering Mrs. Davenport among my friends. What are the Black Rock and -Puffing Hole like?" He smiled, and bent gallantly towards the widow. - -"I think," said Jerry, "Mrs. Davenport herself is the best person to -give you a description of either. Her house is near them, and she has -lived, I may say, next door to them for years, and knows more than I -do of the place. To make the matter even, if Mrs. Davenport will do -the description I will do the narrative part of the tale. That is a -fair division." - -Mrs. Davenport trembled slightly again, and was about to speak, when -Mr. Paulton said, in a tone of impetuous persuasion: - -"Your house near these strange freaks of nature, Mrs. Davenport! Of -course I did not know that, or I should not have dreamed of asking Mr. -O'Brien for an account of them." - -The old man's belief was that it would divert Mrs. Davenport's mind -from wholly gloomy subjects if she were only induced to speak of -matters of general interest. - -She shook her head sadly. - -"It is true my home was for many years at Kilcash House, which is near -the Black Rock. But----" - -She paused, and a peculiar smile took possession of her face. All eyes -were fixed on her in expectation. No one cared to speak. What could -that strange break mean? Surely, to describe a scene or phenomenon of -the coast with which she was most familiar could not be very -distressing? - -"But," she resumed, "it is my home no longer. It is true I am going -back there for a little time--a few weeks; but that is only to arrange -matters. I have now no home." - -The voice of the woman was almost free from emotion. It was slightly -tremulous towards the end; but if she had been reading aloud a passage -she but dimly understood, she could have displayed no less emotion. - -"No home!--no home!" said Mr. Paulton, so softly as to be only just -audible. "I was under the impression you had been left Kilcash House." - -"Yes, my husband left me Kilcash House and other things--other -valuable things--and a large sum of money. But----" - -Again she paused at the ominous "but." - -Again all were silent, and now even Mr. Paulton could not light on -words that seemed likely to help the widow over her hesitation. - -"But I cannot take anything." - -Once more the old man repeated her words: "Cannot take anything! Are -the conditions so extraordinary--so onerous?" - -He and O'Brien thought that the principal condition must be forfeiture -in case she married Blake. This would explain much of what was now -incomprehensible. - -"There are no conditions whatever in the will," she said in the same -unmoved way. - -"No conditions! And yet you have no home, although your late husband -has left you a fine house?" - -"Yes, and all that is necessary for the maintenance of that house; -notwithstanding which, I have no home, and am a beggar." - -"Mrs. Davenport," cried the old man, with genuine concern, "what you -say is very shocking. I hope it is not true." - -"I know this is not the time or place to talk of business. I know my -business can have little or no interest for you." - -"Excuse me, my dear Mrs. Davenport, there is nothing out of place -about such talk now, and you really must not say we take but slight -interest in your affairs. On the contrary, we are very much interested -in them. I think I may answer for every member of my family, and say -that beyond our own immediate circle of relatives there is no lady in -whom we take so deep an interest." - -The old man was solemn and emphatic. - -"I am sure," said Mrs. Paulton, looking round the table, "that my -husband has said nothing but the simple fact." - -She turned her eyes upon the widow. - -"Mrs. Davenport, I hope you will always allow me to be your friend. -Your troubles have, I know, been very great, and you are now no doubt -suffering so severely that you think the whole world is against you. -We, at all events, are not. Anything we can do for you we will; and, -believe me, Mrs. Davenport, doing anything for you will be a downright -pleasure." - -The widow bowed her head for a moment before speaking. It seemed as -though she could not trust her voice. After a brief pause she sat up, -and, resting the tips of the fingers of both hands on the table, said: - -"As I told you earlier to-day, I have been alone all my life, and the -notion of fellowship is terrible to me, coming now upon me when my -life is over." - -"Indeed you should not talk of your life being over. You are still -quite young. Many a woman does not begin her life until she is older -than you." - -"I am thirty-four, and that is not young for one to begin life." - -"But, may I ask," said Mr. Paulton, "how it is that the will becomes -inoperative? How is it that you cannot avail yourself of your -husband's bequests?" - -"My reasons for not taking my husband's money must, for the present--I -hope for ever--remain with myself. Mr. Blake has told me certain -things, and I have found out others myself. I am now without money--I -do not mean," she said, flushing slightly, "for the present moment, -for a month or two--but I am without any money on which I can rely for -my support. I shall have to begin life again--or, rather, begin it for -the first time. I shall have to work for my living, just as any other -widow who is left alone without provision. This is very plain -speaking, but the position is simple." - -"But, my dear Mrs. Davenport, you must not in this way give yourself -up to despair," said Mr. Paulton, as he rose and stood beside her. - -"Despair!" she cried, looking up at him with a quick glance of angry -surprise. "Despair! You do not think me so poor a coward as to -despair. How can one who never knew hope know despair? I am in no -trouble about the future. I shall take to a line of life in which -there is room and to spare for such as I." - -"Do not do anything hastily, I have a good deal of influence left." - -Mrs. Paulton, who saw that Mrs. Davenport was excited, over-wrought, -rose and moved towards the door. The others stood up, excepting Mrs. -Davenport, who, as she was excited and looking up into Mr. Paulton's -face, did not hear the stir or see the move. - -"I am most sincerely obliged to you, Mr. Paulton, but I greatly fear -that, much as I know you would wish it, you could not aid me in my -business scheme." - -"May I ask what the business is?" - -"The stage." - -"The stage, Mrs. Davenport! You astound me." - -"I have lived alone and secluded all my life. For the future I shall, -if I can, live among thousands of people, whom I will _compel_ to -sympathise with my mimic trials, since I never had any one to -sympathise with my real ones. I shall flee from an obscurity greater -than a cloister's to the blaze and full publicity of the footlights. -You think me mad?" - -"No; ill-advised. Who suggested you should do this?" - -She glanced around, and saw that the ladies were waiting for her. - -"I beg your pardon," she said to them, as she rose and walked towards -the door, which Alfred held open. - -She turned back as she went out, and answered Mr. Paulton's question -with the two words: - -"Mr. Blake." - -Alfred closed the door. The three men looked in amazement at one -another. - -"There's something devilish in her or Blake," said the old man. - -"Or both," said Jerry O'Brien. - -By a tremendous effort, Alfred Paulton sat down and kept still. He did -not say anything aloud, but to himself he moaned: - -"If I lose her, my reason will go again--this time for ever!" - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIV. - - A TELEGRAM FROM THE MAIL. - - -When the men found themselves alone and somewhat calmed down after the -excitement caused by Mrs. Davenport's astonishing announcement, Mr. -Paulton and Jerry discussed the proposed step with great minuteness -and intelligence, while Alfred sat mute and listless. He pleaded the -necessity of his going to bed early on account of to-morrow's journey. -In the course of the discussion between the two elder men, Jerry held -that if she did take to the stage, she would make one of the most -startling successes of the time. - -"She has beauty enough," he said, "to make men fools, and fire enough -to make them lunatics. What a Lady Macbeth she would be!" - -Mr. Paulton was anything but a fogey. He did not forget that he had -been once young, nor did he forget that, when young, a pretty face and -a fine figure had seemed extremely bewitching things. He was liberal -in all his views, except in the matter of betting. To that vice he -would give no quarter whatever. He never once sought to restrain his -son's reading, and Alfred had a latchkey almost as soon as he was tall -enough to reach the keyhole. Although he did not smoke himself, he saw -no objection to others, his son included, smoking in suitable places, -and with moderation. He did not exclude shilling whist from his code, -although he never played. He rarely went out after dinner now, but -when he made his mind up to move, he did not think there was anything -unbecoming in his visiting a theatre--the _front_ of a theatre, mind -you, sir. He supposed and believed there were many excellent men -behind the scenes, and he did not feel himself called upon to say -that the majority of the ladies were not all that could be desired; -but--ah, well, he would be very sorry--it would, in fact, break his -heart if either of his daughters--Madge, for instance--went upon the -stage. - -With the latter part of this somewhat long-winded speech Jerry -heartily concurred. He felt furious and full of strength when he -fancied Madge behind the curtain, subjected to dictation and -uncongenial associations, not to speak of anything more disagreeable -still. There were nasty draughts and nasty smells, and nasty ropes and -nasty dust, and sometimes the carefully-attuned ear might catch a -nasty word. It was blasphemy to think of Madge in such an atmosphere, -amid such surroundings. And then fancy any "young man" of fifty-six -putting his arm round Madge, and administering even a stage kiss to -his darling! The thing was preposterous, and not to be entertained by -any sane mind. - -Coffee was sent into the dining-room, and the whole household retired -early. - -Alfred's reflections that night were the reverse of pleasant. He had -that day seen the woman he loved. She had come before his eyes as -unsought as the flowery pageant of summer. She had filled his heart -with tropical heat, had set fancy dancing in his head, and restored -strength and vigour to his invalid body. He had, before the moment his -eyes rested on her that day, been satisfied with the hope of seeing -her in weeks, months. She had come voluntarily, no doubt, without -special thought of him, to their home; she had once more accepted -their hospitality, and he and O'Brien were to accompany her to -Ireland. They would not travel together, but he should know she was -near--know she was in the same train, in the same steamboat; they -should meet frequently on the journey, and, crowning thought of all, -they had one common destination! - -He had that day spent some delicious minutes in her company. While she -was by he had forgotten his late illness, his present weakness. The -immediate moment had been filled with incommunicable joy, and the -future with splendid happiness. - -What had befallen all this dream of enchantment? Ruin--ruin complete -and irreparable! She was, owing to some secret and mysterious cause or -other, no longer rich. In her own estimation she was a pauper. That -was little. If that was all, it could be borne with a smile--nay, with -gratitude; for riches would act as a lure to other men, and he wanted -only herself and, if it might come in time, her love. - -She had determined to go upon the stage. That was bad--entirely bad; -but if this evil resolve stood alone, it might be combated. If she had -determined merely with herself to follow the profession of an actress, -she might be persuaded to abandon her design. But the unfortunate -course she had made up her mind to follow had been suggested by Blake, -by an old lover who years ago was dear to her, and now was absolute in -her counsels. This put an end to every hope that she could ever be -his. - -Oh, weary day, and wearier night! - -If he could, he would back out of going to Ireland; but that was now -impossible. Under the pressure of his great joy, he had told O'Brien -of his love for Mrs. Davenport, and all arrangements had, at his -request, been made for their setting off to-morrow. She must go -to-morrow. While there is life there is hope. He was hoping against -hope; but accidents did happen in many cases, and might happen in this -one. No man was bound to despair; in fact, despair was cowardly and -unmanly. It was the duty of every man to hope, and he would hope. He -would go to Ireland to-morrow; he would put his chance against -Blake's. If this disappointment were to kill him or drive him mad, he -might as well enjoy the pleasure of being near her until his health or -mind gave way finally. - -When he came to this decision he fell asleep. - -Next day broke chill and dismal, and none of the folk at Carlingford -House seemed lively except Edith. Mrs. Paulton was depressed because -her only son was going away from home and into a country of which she -had a vague and unfavourable notion. O'Brien was sulky at the thought -of being torn from the side of Madge, now that he might talk freely to -her of love and their prospects, and the brutal Commissioners. Mrs. -Davenport was depressed by a variety of circumstances and -considerations, and Alfred had much to make him anything but cheerful. -Mr. Paulton's seriousness--that was the strongest word which could -fairly be applied to his humour--was due to the dulness of the -weather, and a depreciation in the value of some shares held by him. - -During the day each of the travellers was more or less busy with -preparations. Mrs. Davenport had to go to town early in order to -transact business she had neglected the day before. Alfred stayed -mostly in his room, and O'Brien, far from sweet-tempered, managed, -through the unsought contrivance of Edith, to be a whole hour alone -with Madge. - -"You know," he said to her, when preliminaries had been disposed of, -"it's a beastly nuisance to have to go away from you now. I'd much -rather stop, I assure you." - -"You are very kind." - -"Don't be satirical, Madge. No woman ever yet showed to advantage when -satirical. I say it's a great shame to have to go away, particularly -when it's only to save appearances; for now that Blake has once more -come on the scene, all is up with poor Alfred. Upon my word, Madge, I -pity him." - -"Do you like her, Jerry?" - -"No. I like you. I like you very much. You're not a humbug." - -"Is she?" - -"No. But she's too awfully serious. I cannot help thinking she ought -to do everything to the slow music of kettledrums." - -"Why kettle-drums?" - -"I don't know. I suppose it's because the concerted kettle-drum -is the most bald and arid form of harmonious row. I'm afraid my -language is neither select nor expressive. But one can't help one's -feelings--particularly when one's feelings make one like you. I really -am sorry to have to leave you." - -"But you mustn't blame me for that." - -"Now you are quite unreasonable. You must know that a man without a -grievance is as insipid as a woman without vanity." - -"Jerry, I'm not a bit vain; I never was a bit vain. What could I be -vain about?" - -"Ungrateful girl! Have I not laid my hand and fortune, including the -bodies of the murdered Commissioners, at your feet?" - -"You are silly, Jerry." - -"How am I silly? In having laid my hand and fortune and the -bodies----" - -"No. In talking such nonsense." - -"And you are not vain of having made a conquest of me?" - -"Jerry, I'm very fond of you, and I don't like you to talk to me as if -you thought I was only a silly girl whom you were trying to amuse with -any silly things you could think of. I hope you don't believe I'm a -fool?" - -"No. You are right, Madge: it's a poor compliment for a man to talk -mere tattle to his sweetheart. I wonder, darling, if you would give me -a keepsake, now that I am going away?" - -"No. I have no faith in keepsakes. I would not take any keepsake from -you, because I shall need nothing to remind me of you when you are -away." - -"Darling, nor I of you. And if things go wrong with me?" - -"They can't go wrong with you." - -"I mean if I come off worse in these business affairs." - -"That will not make any difference in you." - -"No. Nor in you, darling?" - -"No." - -He held her in his arms a while, and said no more. Thus they parted. - -It had been arranged that the two men should meet Mrs. Davenport at -Euston. They were on the platform when she arrived. To their surprise -she was not alone: Blake accompanied her. As soon as they came forward -he shook hands with her, raised his hat, and retired. - -O'Brien and Paulton were greatly taken aback by Blake's presence. They -busied themselves about her luggage, and then took seats in the same -compartment with her. They were the only passengers in the -compartment. - -As soon as the train was in motion she leaned forward to O'Brien, and -said in a clear, distinct voice, the edge of which was not dulled by -the rumble of the wheels: - -"You arrived the day before yesterday from Ireland?" - -"Yes," he answered, bending forward and looking into her inscrutable -eyes. - -"You have been at Kilcash?" - -"Yes. I was there for about a month." - -"Did you hear a ghost story there?" - -He started and looked seriously at her. - -"Yes, I did. May I ask if you have heard anything about it?" - -"Yes. When I got back to Jermyn Street where I stayed, I found a -letter there telling me that a ghost, the ghost of a man named Michael -Fahey, had been seen in the neighbourhood of Kilcash." - -"At the Black Rock. I was going to tell the story yesterday at dinner, -but it slipped by." - -"Do you know anything of this--apparition?" - -"I saw it myself, and two others saw it." - -"Where do we stop first?" - -"At Rugby." - -She took a note-book from her pocket, and wrote something in it. When -the writing was finished, she tore out the leaf on which it was, and -handed the leaf to O'Brien, saying: - -"Will you be kind enough to telegraph this from Rugby for me?" - -"It will have to be written on a form," he said, hesitatingly. - -"Will you oblige by writing it on a form for me? There is no reason -why you shouldn't read it." - -When he got out at Rugby he read the message. It was addressed to -Blake, and ran: - -"_Mr. O'Brien saw what I told you. Follow me to Ireland at once_." - - - - - CHAPTER XXXV. - - THE TRAVELLERS. - - -It was impossible for O'Brien to tell Alfred the nature of the -telegram he had just despatched to Blake. It would not be seemly to -whisper or to write, and to leave the compartment with the proclaimed -intention of seeking a smoking carriage would be a transparent device. -There was nothing for it but to sit still and keep silent. - -The three travellers settled themselves in their corners, and -pretended to go to sleep. Each had thoughts of an absorbing nature, -but none had anything exceptionally happy with which to beguile the -dreary midnight journey. It was impossible to see if Mrs. Davenport -slept or not. She had, upon settling herself after leaving Rugby, -pulled down her thick veil over her face, and remained quite -motionless. Young Paulton was not yet as strong as he imagined, and -the monotonous sound and motion soon fatigued him, and he fell asleep. - -Although O'Brien kept his eyes resolutely shut he never felt more -wakeful in his life. - -What on earth could this woman want with this man of most blemished -reputation and desperate fortune? She had seen him lately, and he had -told her something of the mysterious appearance near the Puffing Hole; -but it was not until after they had started from Euston that she had -made up her mind to summon him to Ireland. What could she want him -for? She was, according to her own statement, now no longer rich. She -was no longer young. The best years of her beauty had passed away. No -doubt she was still an extremely beautiful woman, but the freshness -was gone. As far as he knew, Blake was the last man in the world to -marry such a woman. And yet there was some secret bond, some concealed -link between them. He was not unjust to her. He did not believe she -would inveigle any man into a marriage, and he could not understand -why this Blake was now even tolerable to her. - -However matters might go, it looked as if Alfred were certain to -suffer. It was quite plain he was madly in love with her, and that she -did not see, or was indifferent to his passion. She was not a -coquette. She showed no desire to claim indulgence because of her sex -or sorrows, and certainly exacted no privilege as a tribute to her -beauty. To him she seemed hard, mechanical, cold. She had, it is true, -broken down the day before, but that was under extreme pressure. -Usually she was as unsympathetic, self-contained as bronze. - -Jerry was not a fool or a bigot, and he allowed to himself, with -perfect candour, that although he looked on Alfred's passion as -infatuation, he could understand it. He himself was no more in love -with her than with the black night through which they were speeding; -but if she, at that moment, raised her veil and stood before him and -bade him undertake something unpleasant--nay, dangerous--he would -essay it. Strength gives command to a man, beauty to a woman, love to -either. - -At Chester the three got coffee, and once more took up their corners -and affected to sleep or slept. - -When they reached the boat at Holyhead, Mrs. Davenport said good-night -and descended to the ladies' cabin. The two friends got on the bridge, -and as soon as the steamer had started O'Brien took Paulton to the -weather bulwark, and told him the substance of the telegram Mrs. -Davenport had sent to London. - -To O'Brien's astonishment, the younger man made nothing of the matter. -It was simply a business affair, he said: nothing of any moment. From -all they had heard, Blake knew more than they had supposed of the dead -man's affairs; and now that Mrs. Davenport had resolved not to take -the fortune her husband had left her, it was almost certain Blake -could be of assistance to her. - -After a little while it was agreed that the bridge was too cold for -Alfred, so both men went below and lay down. O'Brien fell asleep, and -did not awake until he was called close to Kingstown. - -It was a dreary, cold, bleak morning, with thin sunlight. There had -been rain in the night, and everything looked chill and depressing. -The passage had been smooth, and none of the three had suffered by it -beyond the spiritless depression arising from imperfect rest and -fatigue. - -When they alighted at Westland Row, Jerry suggested that they should -send on their luggage to the King's Bridge terminus, and seek -breakfast. - -"Not my luggage," said Mrs. Davenport; "I am not going to Kilcash -to-day. Kindly get me a cab. I will stay at the 'Tourists' Hotel.' I -have telegraphed, as you know, to Mr. Blake to come over, and will -send him word to meet me there. I am extremely obliged to both of you -for all your kindnesses on the way." - -Alfred started, and Jerry looked surprised. - -"You are," the latter said, "quite sure you prefer staying here. Of -course I do not presume to interfere; but perhaps it might be more -convenient for you, Mrs. Davenport, if Mr. Blake followed you to -Kilcash?" - -"I am quite sure," she said, decisively, "that it would be best for me -to stay in Dublin for the present." - -"If you simply wanted rest, we could wait for you a day or two," said -Alfred, out of whose face all look of animation had gone. - -"Thank you, I am not in the least tired; and if you will get me a cab, -and tell the man to drive me to the 'Tourists', you will greatly -oblige me." - -Nothing more was to be done or said. Her luggage was put on a cab, she -again thanked the two friends, and saying she hoped to have an -opportunity of soon seeing them at Kilcash House, said goodbye to -them, and drove away. - -Alfred and Jerry O'Brien got breakfast, drove to the King's Bridge -terminus, and started for the South in no very good humour. - -"It's always the way," thought the latter, despondingly. "Only for the -infernal Commissioners and O'Hanlon's craze about his brain--bless the -mark!--I need not have left London last month. Only for Alfred's -infatuated impatience and his father's vicarious gallantry, I might be -there now; and here are the Commissioners gone to sleep, O'Hanlon's -head good for nothing, any number of future bills of costs, and we -deserted by the object of young love and elderly gallantry! Upon my -word, it's too bad. If O'Hanlon had only had the good sense to murder -the Commissioners while suffering from temporary or permanent -insanity, and Blake owned the good taste to run away with the -widow--why, then, things would be wholesome and comfortable. As it is, -they are simply-beastly." - -The two friends arrived late that night at the "Strand Hotel," -Kilcash, and went to bed almost immediately. Neither rose early next -morning, but when they did get up, they found the weather magically -improved. A few high silver clouds floated against the deep blue -screen of sky, beyond which one knew the stars lay; for the grass and -bare branches of trees flashed and blazed, not with the yellow light -of the gaudy sun, but with rays that seemed glorious memories of -midnight stars. The sea in the bay was calm as a lake, and joined upon -the level margin of the sand smoothly, like a steady white flame -spreading out from a dull-red lake of fire. The doors of the cottages -were open, and people were abroad. Thin wreaths of smoke went up from -hushed hearths. Hundreds of gulls sailed slowly up and down across the -mouth of the bay. Now a dog barked, now a cock crew, now a wild bird -whistled. - -Opposite Alfred, as he stood at his window, drinking in the peace of -the scene, rose the sloping sides of the bay. On them were sheep -grazing. Here the salt blasts from the Atlantic would let no wheat or -oats, or grain of any other kind, prosper. Nothing would grow but -short, poor grass, on which sheep picked up an humble livelihood. The -harvest fields of Kilcash were beyond the bay, out there on the blue -depths of the ocean, that great cosmopolitan common of the races of -man. - -Little labour was ever to be done in Kilcash. Its farms, its -workshops, its mines were in the sea. No child, until he himself went -to sea, ever saw his father work. The men came home not merely to -their houses, but to the village to rest. When they had hauled up -their boats, and carried away the nets and sails and oars and masts, -their labours were at an end. The women bore the fish up to the Storm -Wall, whence it was thrown into carts and creels, and driven off to -Kilbarry. The visitors who came to the place in summer did not work. -They came avowedly to do nothing--to idle through the sunny weather, -to play at fishing, play at boating, play at swimming, to make grave -business of doing nothing. - -"I feel it doing me good already," said Alfred, as he threw up the -window and spread his chest broad to take a full inspiration of the -invigorating, balsamic air. - -After a late breakfast the two friends strolled out. - -"What shall we do to-day?" said Jerry, lighting a cigar. - -"What is there to be done?" asked Alfred, by way of reply. - -"Nothing," answered Jerry, throwing away the match--"absolutely -nothing. It is because there is nothing to be done here I thought the -place would do you good." - -"Not by way of change?" said Alfred, with a smile. - -"Well, doing nothing at Kilcash is very different from doing nothing -in London. There you get up, eat breakfast, look at the morning -papers, yawn over a book; write three notes to say you have no time to -write a letter; wonder what the earlier portion of the day was -intended for; resolve to go to bed early that night so as to find out -the secret; dress; go out nowhere, anywhere; make a call on a person -whom you don't want to see, and who doesn't want to see you; curse -yourself for being so stupid as to look him up, and him for being so -stupid as not to amuse you; buy a hairbrush you don't want; wonder -where people can be going in hansoms at such an hour, and can't find -out for the life of you where you could go in a hansom at that time, -except to the British Museum, or Tower, or National Gallery, or some -other place no respectable person ever yet went to; drop into a club -for luncheon, and find that no one you ever saw before lunches at the -club, and that those who do are intensely disagreeable; stroll into -the park; pick up two dear old boys, who have been looking for you -everywhere to tell you about something or other that makes you swear; -back to the club to dinner, where you meet every man you care for, and -dine; after dinner go somewhere or other--to Brown's, for instance, or -to the theatre, or to see the performing Mastodon; afterwards cards or -billiards, and bed at half-past two or three." - -"That's rather a full and exhausting programme for an idle day. It -isn't much good here. What do you do here a day you do nothing?" - -"Nothing. Whether it's a busy or an idle day with you here, you can't -do anything, except you get books and go in for the exact sciences. -You couldn't buy a morning paper here for a sovereign, or a pack of -cards for a hundred pounds. The hotel does not take in a paper at this -time of the year, and only three come to the village--one each to the -clergymen, and one to the police barracks. The garrison of the -barracks is six men and a bull-terrier. There's no one to look at -here, and no one to call on, except the echoes, which at this time of -the year are uncommonly surly, not to say scurrilous. There is no -fish, as the fish have all gone away on business; they come here only -to stare at the summer visitors. The only thing one can do here is -smoke--provided you don't buy the tobacco in the village." - -"And walk?" asked Alfred. "Cannot one walk here?" - -"Yes, mostly. Not always, though; for when it rains here you have to -swim, and when it blows here, you have to fly." - -"But to-day, for instance, we can walk." - -O'Brien looked aloft, looked down in the light wind, and then out to -sea. - -"Yes, I think it will keep fine." - -"Well, then, let us walk." - -"But I forgot to tell you there is no place to walk to." - -"Oh, yes, there is. I know more of the neighbourhood than you, short a -time as I have been here." - -"Where?" - -"Kilcash House. Jerry, don't laugh or don't abuse me. I can't help it. -Let me see where she lived--where she will live again." - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVI. - - SOLICITOR AND CLIENT. - - -When Mrs. Davenport reached the "Tourists' Hotel," she asked to be -shown into a private sitting-room. She had slept in the boat, and was -in no need of repose. In reply to the servant, she desired breakfast -to be brought, and asked for writing materials. She wrote out a -telegram to Blake: "I am staying at the 'Tourists', and shall await -you here." She wrote a couple of notes of no consequence, and then -breakfasted. At the very earliest Blake could not reach Dublin until -that evening. In the meantime she would go and see her late husband's -solicitor, Mr. Vincent Lonergan. - -The old attorney received Mrs. Davenport with the most elaborate -courtesy. He was tall, round-shouldered, white-haired, white-bearded, -fresh-coloured, slow, oracular. He congratulated himself on meeting -her for the first time, and fished up phrases of sympathy and -condolence out of his inner consciousness, as though he was the first -man in the world who had ever to refer to such matters. Then he -paused, partly that his elaborate commonplaces might have time to sink -into her mind, and partly that she might have time to collect her -thoughts and bring her mind to the business of her visit. - -"May I ask you," she said, "how long you acted as solicitor to my late -husband?" - -"About twelve years, I think. I can tell you exactly if you desire -it." - -"I will not trouble you for the exact date. During those twelve years -you were well acquainted with all Mr. Davenport's affairs, I dare -say?" - -"With the legal aspect of his affairs, yes. With the business aspect -of his affairs, no." - -"You know that he made large sums of money by speculating in foreign -stocks and shares?" - -"I do not _know_ it. I have heard it." - -"From whom have you heard it?" - -"From several people--himself among the number." - -She paused a moment, and then said: "Your words seem to imply a doubt. -You will, I am certain, give me all the information you can?" - -"Assuredly, my dear lady." - -"Then do you not know that he made his money out of foreign -speculations?" - -"Permit me to explain: I did not intend to imply any doubt as to the -way in which the late Mr. Davenport made his money. We solicitors get -into a legal way of talking when we are at business; and, legally -speaking, I have no knowledge of my own of how the late Mr. Davenport -made his money, because the making of the money did not come directly -under my observation. I _do_ know he told me he made it in foreign -speculations, and I think you will be quite safe in taking it that he -did make it abroad. We are now, as I take it, speaking of the time -before your marriage with Mr. Davenport?" - -"Yes, of the time before my marriage." - -"Since then, you would naturally know more of his business affairs -than I." - -"He spoke little to me of business, and I know hardly anything of his -affairs." - -"As you know, you are largely benefited under the will. Roughly -speaking, all his property goes to you, in addition to what you are -entitled to under the marriage settlement." - -She made a slight gesture, as though putting these subjects aside. - -He made an elaborate gesture, indicating that he understood her, and -that he was her obedient, humble servant. After another pause she -asked: - -"Do you know anything of a man named Fahey--a man who was in some way -or other connected with Mr. Davenport, and who was drowned or -committed suicide many years ago, shortly after Mr. Davenport's -marriage?" - -"Fahey--Fahey--Fahey? Yes, I do. I remember that he drowned himself -near Kilcash House because the police were on his track for uttering -forged bank-notes." - -"Do you know in what relation he stood to Mr. Davenport?" - -"I am under the impression he was some kind of humble hanger-on; but I -am not sure." - -"You _know_ nothing of him?" - -"Certainly not." - -"Never saw him?" - -"Not to my knowledge." - -Another pause. - -"You were good enough to tell me a moment ago that you are acquainted -with the legal business of my late husband. Suppose I did not wish to -take any money or property under my late husband's will, how would the -matter be?" - -"Not take your husband's money or property under the will! You are -not, my dear Mrs. Davenport, thinking of anything so monstrous?" cried -the old man, fairly surprised out of his measured tone and oracular -manner. - -"Suppose I am. Have I, or shall I soon have, absolute control over -what has been left to me?" - -"Certainly. There are no conditions. All will be yours absolutely." - -"Thank you. I am very much obliged. You will add further to my -obligations to you if you will kindly hurry forward all matters in -connection with the will. I am most anxious to have the money in my -own hands." - -"Permit me to explain once more: I take it for granted you have not -had leisure to read the copy of the will I forwarded to you?" - -She bowed. - -"In wills there are often very stupid conditions and provisions which -govern the disposal of the property. In this case there are no -conditions or provisions, so that you enter into possession quite -untrammelled. You understand me when I say quite untrammelled?" - -"I understand." - -"So that if at any time it seemed well to you to----" He stopped. She -had begun to rise, and he did not know whether it would be wise to -complete the sentence or not. - -She stood before him holding out her hand as she finished what he had -begun--"To marry again I should run no risk of forfeiting the money." - -"Precisely." - -She smiled. - -"Thank you. I am a little tired, and am not able to express my sense -of your goodness to me during this interview. But I am, I assure you, -grateful. I am not thinking of marriage. You will, I hope, be able to -get everything into order soon. I must go now. Good-bye." - -He saw her into the cab waiting for her at the door, and then walked -back to his private office. - -"A remarkable woman," he mused, "a remarkable and very fine woman. But -I suppose she's mad. There's a screw loose in the heads of the -Davenport family, and 'Evil communications corrupt good manners.' -Perhaps she took the taint from him. There was no screw loose in his -business head. He was as sharp as razors, and as close as wax. I think -she's mad, or perhaps she's only a rogue. I suspect his money was not -over clean, but that's no affair of mine. She married Davenport, every -one said, for his money. She lived with him all these years for his -money, every one said--although, for the life of me, I can't see what -good it did him or her; and now he's gone, and the money is all hers, -and she talks of doing away with it. Oh, she must be mad, for I don't -see where the roguery could come in, unless--unless---- Ah, that may -be it. By Jove, I'm sure that's it! Byron says, 'Believe a woman or an -epitaph?' But he didn't mean it. Byron hardly ever meant what he said, -and never what he wrote. It's a pity he never turned his attention to -law. He never, as far as my reading has gone, did anything with law -except to break all of it he could lay his hands on--civil and -divine--especially divine, for that's cheap, and he was poor. She's a -very fine woman, though. But what is this I was saying? Oh, yes. The -only explanation of her conduct is that Blake, the blackguard Blake, -has asked her, or is going to ask her, to marry him, and that she -wants to test him by saying she is about to give away all her money to -charitable institutions. That's the root of the mystery. And then, -when she marries him, she'll throw all the money into his lap, and -he'll spend it for her, and gamble it away and beat her. Anyway, he -can't make quite a pauper of her, for even she herself can't destroy -her marriage settlement, and the trustees won't stand any nonsense. -_Always_ 'believe a woman _and_ an epitaph.' I wonder what kind of an -epitaph will she put up to Davenport? Something about his name always -reminding her of him--that she couldn't stand it, and so had to change -it." - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVII. - - THE WIDOW'S THEORY OF THE CASE. - - -When Mrs. Davenport got back to the hotel, she inquired if any -telegram had come for her, and was told not. She seemed displeased, -disappointed. She asked questions, and discovered that it would be -next to impossible that her telegram could reach London before the -departure of the morning mail. This put things right, for she felt -certain that if Blake got her message he would have replied. He was on -his way, and would be in Dublin that evening. In Dublin, yes; but how -should he know where to seek her? She spoke to the manager, to whom -she explained her difficulty. - -If the lady telegraphed to the mail-boat at Holyhead, the gentleman -would be sure to get the message. - -She thanked the manager, and adopted his suggestion. The day was -unpleasant under foot and overhead. There were no friends upon whom -she wished to call. The ten years of secluded life at Kilcash House -had severed all connection with old acquaintances, and she had made no -new ones. - -She remained by herself in the sitting-room. She did not even try to -read. She sat in the window, and kept her eyes turned towards the busy -street. It could not be said she watched the crowds and vehicles, or -was even conscious of their existence. She kept her eyes in their -direction--that was all. - -Luncheon was brought in. She sat at the table for a quarter of an -hour, ate something, and then went back to the old place at the -window. It was dark before dinner appeared, but she did not ring for -lights. When dinner was over, it was close to the time for the arrival -of the mail. She put on her bonnet, and went to Westland Row terminus. -The weather was still unpleasant, but she did not care, did not heed -it. She had not long to wait in that dismal, squalid cavern at the -foot of the stone steps leading down from the platform. The train -rumbled in, and the passengers began to descend and pass between the -double row of people. Suddenly she stepped forward and touched a man -on the arm. He turned quickly, and looked at her, exclaiming: - -"You here, Marion! I got your telegram on the boat." - -"I was afraid it might miss you, so I thought it safer to come -myself." - -"What extraordinary story is this? I can scarcely believe you were -serious when you wired me yesterday from Rugby." - -"I was in no humour for jesting," she said. "This is no place to talk -in. Wait until we get to the hotel." - -When they were seated in Mrs. Davenport's sitting-room, he waited for -her to speak. She was in the arm of the couch--he by the table, with -his elbow resting on it. They were facing one another. She clasped her -hands in her lap and rested against the back of the couch. She was -deadly pale, and when she spoke her voice was low, firm, and full of -thought. - -"I want you to tell me _all_ you know about this man Fahey. Mind, you -are to tell me all. There is no use in concealing anything now. I will -not take a penny of that money. Speak plainly." - -"Not take the money, Marion! Are you mad?" he exclaimed, starting -forward on his chair. - -"Not yet. The future of my reason will depend a good deal on the -plainness of your speech. Go on." - -"But I have told you all that is worth telling." - -"Tell it to me all over again, and this time add everything, great or -little, you can think of, you can recollect. Let me judge what is -worth listening to, and what is not. I am waiting." - -"I know next to nothing of Fahey, and never saw the man in all my -life. You are allowing this absurd story of his ghost to prey on you. -You will make yourself ill." - -"Nothing is so bad as uncertainty. I am racked by uncertainty. Go on -if you wish to do me a service." - -"Service! I'd die for your sake, Marion." - -"Then speak for my sake." She did not move or show any interest one -way or the other in his words, although they had been spoken -pleadingly, passionately. - -"At Florence, when he was seized by that delusion, he raved now and -then, and in his ravings he said continually that there was a plot to -rob and murder him. He did not include me in the conspiracy, but all -others were leagued against him. At times he would become furious, and -defy his imaginary foes, swearing that all of them together were -powerless against him, as Fahey was loyal, and would be loyal to the -death." - -"Loyal in what?" - -"I don't know. He did not say in either his sane or frantic moments." - -"What _did_ he say?" - -"That Fahey knew, but that no power on earth would drag the secret out -of Fahey." - -"What secret?" - -"How should I know?" - -"Do you know?" - -"Upon my soul, Marion, I do not." - -"Well, and after that what would happen?" - -"He would laugh and snap his fingers at imaginary conspirators, and -dare them to do their worst, and then he would break out into a laugh -of triumph. And, as I hope to live, Marion, that's all." - -"Every word?" - -"Every syllable, I swear to you. Marion, I could not tell you a lie. -Marion, I never loved you until now. If you bid me, I will die for -you. If you tell me, I will go away and never see you again. Try me. -Bid me go or bid me die. Tell me to do anything, if you will only -believe I love you as I never loved you before--as I never loved any -other woman in the world. Since you will not forgive me, since you -will not give me your love for mine, since you will not let me be near -you or see you, set me something to do by which I can show you I am -sincere--madly in earnest." - -He bent towards her, and held out his hands, but did not leave his -chair. His voice, his whole frame shook with excitement. - -She raised her hand and lowered it gently, as a signal that he was to -be still and silent. - -He drew his arms and his body quickly back, and sat mutely regarding -her. - -"I am sorry," she said, slowly, gently, "that you spoke in that strain -now. This is not the time for such matters----" - -"Then a time may come, Marion--a time may come soon or late? I do not -care when----" - -"No," she answered, quietly, resolutely. - -"That time came and went long ago. Be silent on that subject. I want -to speak of long ago." - -He groaned, and struck his forehead with his clenched fist. - -"It was scarcely fair of me to ask you to come. Will you answer my -questions?" - -"Ask me what you please. I'll do it. The only hope now left to me is -that you will allow me to serve you." - -"My next question may be, must be painful to you." - -He laughed bitterly. - -"That does not matter. Nothing can matter now, except feeling I can be -of no use to you." - -"What means of influence had you over my husband beyond what I knew -of?" - -"I am not in the least pained by that question. I was a poor idiotic -fool to give you up, but I could not support you if I married you on -my own means then. I had no means. But still less could I, vile as I -was, marry you on money got from him." - -"What influence had you?" - -"I had only one spell to conjure with." - -"And that was?" - -"The name of Fahey." - -"How did you employ that name?" - -"I said to him once, 'Is Fahey still loyal?' I said it half in jest. -We were alone. He begged of me never to mention that name again, as it -recalled his awful condition in Florence. He said if I would do him -the favour of never referring to that circumstance or name, he would -be my life-long debtor--adding: 'And I mean what I say, and that it -shall have practical results.'" - -"He meant money." - -"Yes." - -"Was that before or after he gave you the thousand pounds?" - -"Before--some months before. But now-poor Davenport is no more, and -cannot be hurt by any one. And Fahey is dead, and can hurt no one, -though foolish old women frighten themselves with the thought that -they have seen his ghost. Did you know this Fahey?" - -She shuddered. This was the first sign of feeling she showed. What it -sprang from he could not guess. - -"I did," she answered, unsteadily. - -"And you believe this story about the ghost?" - -"No." - -"What then?" - -"That"--with another shudder--"he is alive." - -"Alive, Marion--alive! You are overexcited. You are talking nonsense. -Go and lie down. You are worn out." - -"I am. I feel my head whirling round. Leave me." - -He rose obediently to go. - -"My mind is giving way, Tom." - -That name spoken by her lips again rooted him to the spot. - -"They suspected you, Tom, of that awful deed, and they say he did it -himself. I am going mad. Surely this is madness." - -"What--what! Marion!" - -"And now I suspect--_him!_" - -"Whom, in the name of heaven?" - -"Fahey. He was jealous of you both. Why did you put out the -lights----" - -She tottered! - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII. - - "WHERE'ER I CAME I BROUGHT CALAMITY." - - -Tom Blake was thunderstruck. They were both standing facing one -another a few feet apart. Blake was not a man to be disturbed by a -trifle. He had been a good deal about in the world, and had had -experience of various kinds of men and women. Many years ago he had -met this woman frequently, and in the end he made love to her. -Although she accepted that love and returned it, she had never taken -him fully into her confidence. - -In Marion Butler, as he knew her eleven or twelve years ago, there had -always been a certain undefined reserve. She would not refuse to -answer any question put to her, nor was there a doubt she answered -truly and fully. But she always created the impression that there were -questions which he could not devise or discover, and the answer to -which he was in no way prepared for. He had no idea or hint of what -these questions might be. He was in no way uneasy about them. He was -convinced there were portions of her nature which would always be -concealed from him; but he was not jealous or suspicious. He was not -then even slightly disquieted by this blankness, this reticence. It -had no more meaning for him than would her native tongue, had she been -born a Hindoo and laid that language aside for English. She had told -him she had never loved any one but him, and he believed her without -the possibility of doubt. She promised to be his wife, and he believed -she would have stood at the altar with him though death were his rival -for the first kiss. - -But now he was amazed, confounded. He had never seen the man Fahey, -but he had heard and read in the papers a little about him, and from -all he had gathered he fancied Fahey was a kind of upper servant or -hanger-on of some kind. Davenport had spoken to him of Fahey, but the -talk had been very general and vague, except with regard to the -conspiracy, and the former man always showed the greatest possible -disinclination to hear anything, or be asked any questions relating to -the latter. Blake had never run the risk of riding a free horse to -death. He got money in large sums from Mr. Davenport, but he had been -judicious. There was nothing so low or coarse as blackmail hinted at -by Mr. Davenport. That gentleman and he were excellent friends, and he -had had bad luck, or was in want of money for some other cause, and -when men became alarmed about money matters, although they were quite -innocent, they often did foolish things. Look at that idiot Fahey. So -Mr. Davenport, because he was a gentleman and a friend of Blake's, -gave him money out of mere courtesy and good nature, and not fear, as -one gives to a strange fellow-pedestrian on the footway when the -stranger carries a load. There was no more hint of threat or dread of -fear in the case of Mr. Davenport's offering the money, or of Blake -taking it, than in the case of the meeting of two unacquainted -wayfarers. - -He had thought nothing the widow could tell him would take him by -surprise, and here he now was fairly breathless and amazed. There was -no doubt in his mind this Fahey had not been the social equal of -Marion Butler, and Blake was of opinion the man's origin had been much -lower than Mr. Davenport's, though whence the dead man had sprung he -did not exactly know. Kilcash House had not always been the dead man's -property. He had bought it only a little while before his marriage. -Davenport seemed to be a man accustomed to meet men only. He was not -by any means at his ease in an ordinary mixed company, and he had -explained this to Blake by saying that until comparatively late in -life he had been almost wholly a business man and unaccustomed to the -society of ladies. - -But now what ghastly light shone on the dire tragedy of the Crescent -House in Dulwich! What a wonderful revelation was this! Fahey, the -humble follower of the dead man, had been an admirer of the dead man's -wife; and he who had been declared dead a decade of years ago was by -her believed to be living, and to have been connected directly with -her husband's death! No wonder he was giddy. No wonder he could find -no words to speak to her. No wonder he could only stand and gaze at -her in stupid fear, revolving in a dim light the ghostly pageant of -the past. - -It was she who broke the silence. - -"I wish I were dead!" - -Her voice recalled him to her presence and the immediate hour. He took -her by the hand, led her to a seat, and began pacing up and down the -room without speaking. - -"Advise me," she went on, after a pause. "Advise me, out of mercy. If -I were dead, there would be no lips to tell, no soul to suspect the -horrors by which I am haunted. Advise me. You know more of me than any -other living being. Shall I die?" - -Still he could not speak. Her question came to his ears as though it -were something apart from her personality and his consideration--as -though it were a tedious impertinence rising from an indifferent -source. Although he knew he was in that room with the widow of Louis -Davenport, and that she had just said she believed Fahey was alive, -and had killed her husband from jealousy, he could not give the -situation substantial form. There were confounding murmurs in his -ears, and indeterminable shadows floating before his eyes. His mind -was clamorous for quiet, and the clamour stunned and confounded him. - -"Speak to me," she pleaded. "I am not deserted, yet I am alone. I have -always been alone since I can first remember. Only I myself have -broken the solitude in which I lived. Once, long ago, I thought you -were coming towards me from a distance, to share my solitude, but -you--you--went by. I felt like a castaway on a desolate island, who -sees a sail bear down upon him in the twilight, only to find the -morning sea a barren desert of water. Should I die? That is not a hard -question for you to answer, is it?" - -"No; not a hard question, Marion. You must live." - -"For what?" - -If she had asked this question an hour ago, before she told him her -horrible suspicions, he would readily have answered, "For me." As it -was, such an answer would have seemed flippant, profane. But an answer -of some kind must be made. He could find no answer, and said merely, -"Give me time." - -She sat upright on her chair. One hand and arm rested on the table, -the white hand lying open upon the leaf, the thumb holding on by the -edge. Her head and face were thrust forward, her chin projecting, the -forehead reclining. Her eyes, wide open, followed him closely, -intently, but not eagerly. She seemed curious, more than anxious. It -was as though she took but a reflected interest in the question, -although the reply might govern her action. She waited for him -patiently. He was a long time before he spoke. - -"Marion," he said at length, "if I am to be of any use to you--if even -my advice is to be of service to you--I must know all--all, without -reserve of any kind. On the face of it, your question is absurd. -Supposing you had no code--no religious feeling in the matter; suppose -you had no fear or hope of the other world, what earthly good could -come of your doing violence to yourself?--of your throwing away your -life suddenly?" - -While he was saying this, he continued to walk up and down the room, -with his eyes bent on the floor. - -Her eyes had continued to follow him in the same close, intent way. -Still they lacked eagerness. She was a pupil anxious to know--not an -enthusiast impatient to act. - -"It would," she answered, with no trace of emotion, "close up his -grave for ever, and give peace to his name." - -"Your husband's--your husband's grave and name! Come, Marion, let us -be frank." - -"In what am I uncandid?" - -"You did not--you swore at the inquest you did not--love your husband, -and now you are talking of killing yourself for his sake. Marion, you -cannot hold such words candid." - -He paused in his walk, and stood before her. He looked at her a -moment, and then averted his gaze. Her eyes, although they rested -intelligently on him, did not appear to identify him. They were the -eyes of one occupied with the solution of a mental problem, aided by -formula of which he was merely the source. - -"Thomas Blake," she said, "I once thought you might grow to understand -me, and then I came to the conclusion you never could. You are now -further off than ever. Louis Davenport was my husband, and I belonged -to him. I belong to him still. I swore--as they were good enough to -remind me at the inquest--to love, honour, and obey him. I did not -come to love him as women love their husbands, but my feeling towards -him was whole and loyal. I was his, and I am his; and if my death, now -that he is dead, can benefit him or comfort his name with quiet, I am -willing to die. Do not be alarmed. I shall make no unpleasantness -here. Do you think I am in the way of his rest?" - -"Marion, you are talking pure nonsense. Why, your feelings as a -Christian alone----" - -"Who told you I was a Christian? I tell you I am a Pagan. Leave me at -least the Pagan virtues of courage and fearlessness." She did not -move. - -He looked at her. There could be no doubt she was sincere. Mad as her -words sounded, they must be taken at the full value of their ordinary -meaning. - -"I will not seek to break down your resolution or turn your purpose -aside. But before I can be of any real use to you in the way of -advice, you must trust me wholly. How am I to judge of your duty -unless I know the entire case? Tell me all you know. Tell me all that -passed between you and this Fahey, and all you know of the relations -between him and your husband." - -"I will tell you all you need know." - -"Do you think you are a good judge of where your confidence in a -matter of this importance should end?" - -"I think I am. At all events, I shall be reticent if I consider it -better not to speak." - -"Well, then, go on, Marion, and tell me all you may. Mind, the more I -know the more likely I am able to be of use to you." - -She passed the hand not resting on the table across her forehead. - -"Sit down," she said. "I can speak with greater ease while you are -sitting." - -He took a chair directly opposite her, and she began: - -"All that I said at the inquest is true, and I told the whole truth in -answer to any questions I was asked; but I did not say all that was in -my mind. I have had bitter trials in my life. I will not refer again -to what was once between you and me; and, remember, in anything I may -say I shall have no thought of that. I put that away from my mind -altogether, and it will be ungenerous of you if you draw any deduction -towards our relations in the past from anything I may say. Is that -understood?" - -"Perfectly, Marion. I know you too well to fancy for a moment you -could be guilty of the mean cowardice of talking at any one. Go on." - -"Thank you. I am glad you think I am no coward." She still kept her -hand before her face, as though to concentrate her attention upon her -mental vision. "As I said at that awful inquest, there was never -anything ever so slightly like a quarrel between Mr. Davenport and me. -Except that we lived almost exclusively at Kilcash House, which was -dull, I had little or nothing to complain of; and the great quiet and -isolation of that place did not affect me much, for I had small or no -desire to go out into the world, and after a few years it would have -given me more pain than pleasure to have to mingle in society. Very -shortly after my marriage I met Michael Fahey for the first time----" - -"What was he like?" asked Blake, interrupting her. - -"He was tall and slender. His hair was brown, his eyes light in -colour--blue, I think. He wore a moustache of lighter colour than his -hair, and small whiskers of the same colour. He was good-looking in a -way----" - -"What kind of way?" - -"Well, a soft and gentle way. At first he struck me as being a man who -was weak, mentally and physically. Later I had reason to think him a -man of average, if not more than average, physical strength." - -"About how old was he then?" - -"I could not say exactly. Under thirty, I should think. He also struck -me as a man of not quite good social position. His manners were -uneasy, apprehensive, and his English uncertain. He was restless and -ill at ease, and for my own peace of mind I was glad when I parted -from him; for it struck me he would be much more comfortable if he and -my husband were left alone together. - -"My husband spoke to me in the highest terms of Fahey, and said that -although he wished nothing to be said about it just then, or until he -gave me leave to mention it, Fahey had done him useful service in his -time. That was all Mr. Davenport volunteered, and I asked no question. -I was sure of one thing more--namely, that the less I was with Michael -Fahey the better my husband would be satisfied. - -"I smiled when this conviction came first upon me. Up to the moment I -felt it I had in my mind treated this Fahey as a kind of upper -servant, who was to be soothed into unconsciousness that he was not an -equal. For a short time I felt inclined to expostulate with Mr. -Davenport on the absurdity of fancying Fahey could think of me save as -the wife of his patron; but I kept silence, partly out of pride and -partly out of ignorance of the relations which really existed between -this man and my husband. You may, or may not, have heard of a -circumstance which occurred shortly after my marriage?" - -"I remember nothing noteworthy. Tell me what it was." - -"At that time it was Mr. Davenport's habit to keep large sums of money -in the house. Once upon his having to go away for a few days, he left -me the keys of the safe in which the money was locked up. While he was -away, an attempt was made to rob the house. A door was forced from -outside, and two men were absolutely in my room, where I kept the key -of the safe, when Fahey, who was staying in the village of Kilcash at -the time, rushed in and faced the thieves. I was aroused and saw the -struggle. Fortunately the men were unarmed. The light was dim--only my -low night lamp. - -"The first blow Fahey struck he knocked one of the men through a -window. Then he and the other man struggled a long time, and at last -the thief broke loose and escaped by the way he had come in. Fahey had -overheard the two thieves plan the robbery in the village, and had -followed them that night to our house. My husband wished the matter to -be kept quiet, and so it was hushed up. - -"The next time I met Fahey after that night I was alone on the downs. -He was alone too. I stopped to thank him. I do not remember exactly -what I said--commonplace words of gratitude, no doubt. While I was -speaking I was close to him, and gazing into his face. I cut my speech -short, for I saw a look in his eyes that told me I was not indifferent -to him." - -The widow's hand fell from her face, and she looked at her visitor -with an expression of trouble and dismay. - -"There was nothing distressing or alarming in that," said Blake, with -an encouraging smile. "You must remember you were then, as you are -now, an exquisitely lovely woman. - - - "'No marvel, sovereign lady; in fair field - Myself for such a face had boldly died.'" - - -"Ay, ay," she said, with a shudder and a glance of horror round the -room. "In the stanza before the one from which you quote my fate is -written: - - - "'Where'er I came I brought calamity.'" - - -She stared before her, shuddered again, and sighed. - -"Well?" said he. "You have more to tell me?" - -"Yes; I'll go on." - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIX. - - A COMPACT. - - -Mrs. Davenport rested slightly against the back of her chair, and -resumed: - -"'Mrs. Davenport,' said Fahey, 'what I have done for you was nothing. -It was really not done for you at all. It was done for Mr. Davenport, -not you. The thieves did not want to steal you. They wanted to steal -Mr. Davenport's money. If I may presume to ask you for that rose, I -shall consider myself more than repaid for what I have done.' - -"I gave him the rose. He bowed, and said: 'Yes, they were stupid, -mercenary fools. They thought a few pounds of more value than anything -else in the world. I am not a rich man, and I care very little for -money itself. I care more for what it may bring with it. I would not -care to be the richest man in the world. I have in my time, Mrs. -Davenport, been the humble means of forwarding Mr. Davenport's plans -for making money. He is a rich man. He is rich in more ways than -money.' Here he raised the rose to his lips and kissed it. I stood -amazed. I could not speak or move." - -"Are you sure the man was serious, and that he meant it fully?--or was -it only a piece of elaborate gallantry?" asked Blake, in perplexity. - -"There can be no doubt whatever of his absolute sincerity. Listen. I -merely smiled, as if I did not catch his drift, and moved as though I -would resume my walk towards home. He lifted his hat, and, standing -uncovered, with his hat in one hand and the rose I had given him in -the other, said: - -"'I would not give this rose for all Mr. Davenport's money, and -I know more about his money than any other man living. Mr. Davenport -and I have been close friends for a long time. It is my nature -to be loyal. I have been loyal to him. If I liked I could do him -injury--irreparable injury. If I cared, I could ruin him utterly. But -it is my nature to be loyal. Do you credit me?' - -"For a few seconds I did not answer. I believed he was crazy, and I -thought that I must soothe him in some way and get off. I had become -apprehensive, so I said: 'I am perfectly sure of your loyalty to Mr. -Davenport. I have always heard my husband speak of you in the highest -terms, I hope we may soon have the pleasure of seeing you again at the -House.' - -"'Not yet,' he said--'do not leave me yet. I want to say a few more -words to you. It is easy to listen. Listen, pray. I would not, as I -said before, give that rose for all his money. If I chose to speak, -things might be different with him. By fair means or by foul, I will -not say which, I could make his wealth melt like snow in the sun. But -I have no caring, no need for wealth. I shall not hurt him if you will -make me two promises. Will you make the two promises I ask?' - -"By this time I felt fully persuaded I was in the presence of a -madman. I looked around and could see no one but the man before me. We -were not a hundred yards from the edge of the cliff. I no longer -thought him physically weak; his encounter with the thieves had -settled that point. If he were mad, the promise would count for -nothing. There could be no doubt he was insane. I resolved to try him: -'How is it possible for me to make two promises to you until I know -what they are?' - -"'Your husband trusts me--you may trust me. Do you promise?' - -"'First let me know what the promises are.' - -"'That you will say nothing of what I have said to you to Mr. -Davenport, and that, if ever I have it in my power to do you another -service, and do it, you will give me another rose.' - -"'Yes; in both cases,' I answered. 'You may rest satisfied.' - -"I got away then and was very glad to escape. There was no occasion to -speak to any one about this meeting with Fahey on the downs, unless -indeed I firmly believed he was mad; and now that I had time to recall -all he had said, and review all his actions, I began seriously to -question my assumption as to his insanity. I took the first -opportunity of asking my husband if there was anything remarkable -about Fahey. Mr. Davenport seemed a good deal put out by the question, -and asked me what I meant. I said I thought Fahey was odd at times. My -husband said Fahey was all right, and did not seem disposed to go on -any further with the conversation. - -"I did not meet Fahey again for a long time--I mean months. He then -seemed quite collected; but before wishing good-bye, he said -significantly: 'A man may disappear at any moment on a coast like -this, and yet may not be dead. Now, suppose I were to disappear -suddenly on this coast, you would think I had died, and that Mr. -Davenport no longer ran any risk from my being talkative, or you any -chance of being called upon for that other rose. I am not enamoured of -this coast. I consider it dreary and inhospitable, and it would not at -all surprise me if one day I packed up and fled far away, and stopped -away until almost all memory of me was lost. Do you think, Mrs. -Davenport, that if, after such an absence, I were to come back, you -would recognise me?' - -"I answered that I was sure of it, and got away from him as soon as I -could. Again I spoke to Mr. Davenport about Fahey's sanity. My husband -did not seem to care about discussing the subject, and so I let the -matter drop. Afterwards, when Fahey jumped into the Puffing Hole in -order to avoid the police, I thought to myself that when he talked -about disappearing from the coast he was much nearer the truth than he -had any notion of. - -"All this occurred many years ago, but it made a great impression on -my mind, and I have not forgotten a tittle of it. The words Fahey -spoke, and the way he looked, are as plain to me now as if it all -happened only yesterday. For a long time after Fahey had disappeared, -I believed his death at the Black Rock was nothing more than a pure -coincidence. Now and then, at long intervals, Mr. Davenport would -refer to the matter, but always in tones of anxiety and doubt. I do -not know why I got the notion into my head, but gradually it found its -way there, until at last I became quite sure Fahey was not dead. On -more than one occasion when I had ventured to suggest such an idea to -Mr. Davenport's mind, he showed great emotion, and, after a few -struggles, either directly dismissed or changed the subject. - -"If Fahey had been right about his power of disappearing from that -coast without dying, why should I refuse to believe that Fahey could -injure--nay, ruin, my husband, if he were to appear and make certain -statements of matters within his own knowledge? What these matters -were I could not guess. Since I saw you last I have got good reasons -to feel sure my husband had no proper right to the money he possessed, -and that this man Fahey was aware of the facts of the case." - -"How did you find all this out, Marion?" asked Blake, looking across -at her with freshly awakened interest. - -"I found papers of my husband's." - -"Will you tell me how you believe he came by the money?" - -"No. And you must say nothing of this conversation to any living -being." - -"Trust me, I will not." - -"The difficulties now are, Thomas Blake, that I believe my husband did -not come fairly by his fortune, that Michael Fahey is still alive, and -that he had a hand in the death of my husband." - -Blake knit his brows, rose, and recommenced walking up and down the -room. - -"Mr. Jerry O'Brien, who travelled over from London with me, told me -after we left Euston that he himself and Phelan, the boatman of -Kilcash, had seen the ghost or body of Fahey on the cliffs just above -the Black Rock." - -"It may have been a delusion." - -"Yes, it may; but the chances are ten thousand to one against it. He -told me, too, that a friend of his had seen the same figure, clad in -the same clothes it wore ten or a dozen years ago. The last-named -phenomenon I cannot account for. But if you can believe that a man who -jumped into the Puffing Hole years ago is still alive, all other -beliefs in this case are easy. Now, Thomas Blake, I have spoken more -fully to you than I have ever spoken to any other man. I want you to -advise and help me. - -"How?" asked Blake, stopping in his walk and looking straight into her -white, fixed, expressionless face. - -"By finding out Fahey and discovering whence my husband got his money. -Then, if I may return it without disgracing his name or exposing him, -I will, and if not----" - -"Well, Marion, if not?" - -"I shall put an end to my knowledge and myself, and so keep his grave -quiet and silent for him." - -"Marion, this is sheer madness." - -"So much the better. If I do wrong in an access of insanity, no moral -blame attaches to me or my act. Will you help me? Once upon a time I -could have counted on your aid." - -"At that time you held out the promise of a glorious reward. Do you -hold it out still, Marion?" - -"No. That thought must be put to rest for ever. You may think it -monstrous that such being my mind, I should deliberately seek you and -ask for your help. But I have no future, and you are all that is left -to me of the past----" - -"Marion, Marion, for Heaven's sake don't say it is too late!" he -cried, passionately, and advanced a step towards her. - -She retired two steps, and made an imperative gesture, bidding him -stand still. - -"Stay where you are and listen to me. To quote again from the poem you -quoted awhile ago, 'My youth,' she said, 'was blighted with a curse.'" - -"And," he said, pointing to himself, "if we alter the text slightly, -we find 'This traitor was the cause.' Is not that what you mean, -Marion? Do not spare me; I am meet for vengeance." - -"The present one is not a case for vengeance. But if you like you may -in this matter expiate the past." - -"And when my expiation is complete, in what relation shall you and I -stand to one another?" - -"In the same relation as before we met. You will be just to me, and -help me in this matter, Thomas Blake. Remember that my life has not -been very joyous." - -"But, Marion," he urged, softening his voice, and leaning towards her, -"if I am to take what you say at its full value----" - -"I mean it all quite literally." - -"Then my expiation would assume the form of leading you to the tomb -instead of the altar." - -She drew back, and said: - -"Yes, put it that way if you will. At one time I believed your hand -was guiding me up to the altar, beyond which lay love and life, and -all manner of good and bright things. We never reached the altar. But -something happened, and there was a dull, dead pause in life, like the -winter sleep of a lizard or the trance of the Sleeping Beauty, and -then I awoke, and, to my horror, found the altar had been changed into -a tomb, and the Fairy Prince into Death. There was no time for love. I -had slept through the period of love. I had no power to hate, but I -had the power and the will to die. You will help me?" - -"Not to die, Marion. I will help you to solve the mystery of this -Fahey, and the relations between him and Mr. Davenport, and then when -all has been cleared up, you may----" - -He held out his hand pleadingly. - -"Yes," she said, coldly, firmly, "when all has been cleared up, I may -say--good-bye." - - - - - CHAPTER XL. - - AN EXPEDITION PROPOSED. - - -When Jerry O'Brien said there was absolutely nothing to be done in -Kilcash, he had told the naked truth. The weather was still far from -genial, and Jerry and Alfred Paulton were the only visitors in that -Waterford village. For a man of active habits, in full bodily and -mental vigour, the place would have been the very worst in the world; -but for an invalid who had never been a busy man, it was everything -the most exacting could desire. If Alfred's mind had only been as -peaceful as his surroundings, he would have picked up strength visibly -from hour to hour. - -But his mind was not at ease. For good or evil, he did not care which, -he had given his heart to that woman, and now once more the shadow of -this objectionable, this disreputable man Blake, had come between her -and him. The most disquieting circumstance in the case was that Blake -had not intruded, but had been summoned by her. It is true that on -closer examination this did not seem to point to a love affair between -the two; for unless a woman was fully engaged to a man, she would -scarcely, he being her lover, summon him to her side, under the -circumstances in Mrs. Davenport's case. - -Such thoughts and doubts were not the best salve for a hurt -constitution; and although Alfred recovered strength and colour from -day to day, he did not derive as much benefit from Kilcash as if his -mind had been even as untroubled as it had been when the journey from -Dulwich began. - -Jerry was by no means delighted with affairs. He put the best face he -could on things, but still he was not content. As far as he was -concerned, the detested Fishery Commissioners had gone to sleep, but -there was no forecasting the duration of their slumber. Any moment -they might shake themselves, growl, wake, and swallow up all his -substance. - -"Until they are done with this part of the unhappy country, I shall -feel as if the country was overrun by 'empty tigers,' and I was the -only wholesome piece of flesh after which the man-eaters hankered." - -O'Brien did not pretend to be a philosopher when his own fortune or -comfort was threatened or assailed. He chafed and fumed when things -went wrong, or when he could not get his way. Now he was compelled, in -a great measure, to keep silent, for there would be a want of -hospitality in displaying impatience of Kilcash to Alfred. He had -confided to the latter the secret of his love for Madge, and the -brother had grasped his hand cordially and wished him all luck and -happiness. No man existed, he had said, to whom he would sooner -confide the future of his sister. How was O'Brien to act with regard -to writing to Madge? There had been nothing underhand or dishonourable -in telling the girl of his love that day on the Dulwich Road. The -declaration had in a measure slipped from him before any suitable -opportunity occurred of talking to Mr. Paulton. But speaking to Madge -under the excitement of the moment and the knowledge of approaching -separation was one thing, and writing clandestinely to her quite -another. If he wrote to her openly, inquiries as to the nature of the -correspondence would certainly be made at home, and then their secret -would be found out, and the thought of being found out in anything -about which an unpleasant word could be said was unendurable. In the -haste of leaving Carlingford House he had made no arrangement with -Madge as to writing to her. It was absolutely necessary for him to -risk a letter. He would not be guilty of the subterfuge of writing -under cover of one of Alfred's letters. Accordingly he wrote a bright, -cheerful, chatty note to Madge, beginning "My dear Miss Paulton," and -ending "Yours most sincerely, J. O'Brien." To those who were not in -the secret, nothing could have been more ordinary than this letter. -But its meaning was plain to Madge. Among other things, he said the -Commissioners had not yet done with him, and until they had he could -not count upon another visit to Dulwich; and he begged her to give his -kindest regards to Mr. Paulton, and to express a hope that he might -soon enjoy the pleasure of a walk on the Dulwich Road, when he would -tell her father all about the Bawn salmon and the wretched -Commissioners. Until then he should not bother either of them with any -account of himself or the villains who were lying in wait for him. -This he intended to show that he would not write to her again until he -had cleared up matters with her father. And now that he had got rid of -this letter--it was a task, not a pleasure, to write it--what should -he do? He had told himself and Alfred that even in summer there was -not anything to be done in Kilcash. But he, O'Brien, was in full -health and vigour, and began to feel uneventful idleness very irksome. -Boating even with the pretence of fishing was out of the question, and -one grew tired of strolling along the strand or downs when fine, and -looking out of the windows at the unneeded rain when wet. Against the -weariness of the long evenings he had brought books, cards, and chess -from Kilbarry. Time began to hang heavily on his hands. Nothing more -had been heard or seen of the ghost of Fahey, and the two friends had -been a couple of times to see the outside of Kilcash House, whither, -he believed, Mrs. Davenport had not yet arrived from Dublin. - -The weather was mild, moist, calm. - -"I'll tell you what we shall do, Alfred," said Jerry briskly at -breakfast one morning. - -"What?" asked the other, looking up from his plate. - -"There isn't a ripple on the sea. I'll go see Jim Phelan, and get him -to launch his boat." - -"Capital!" cried Alfred, who was in that state of convalescence when -the daily addition to physical strength begets a desire to use it and -yields indestructible buoyancy. "I should like a good long-sail of all -things--or, indeed, a good pull. I'm sure I could manage an oar nearly -as well as ever." - -"Nonsense!" said Jerry, dogmatically. "I will not be accessory to your -murder, or allow you to commit suicide in my presence. I have had -enough of inquests for my natural life. It's too cold for sailing, and -you're not strong enough for rowing. But there are the caves. The time -of the year does, not make any difference in them, so long as the sea -is smooth. They are as warm in winter as in summer. We can bring -torches and guns, and a horn and grub with us. A torchlight picnic -would be a novelty to me, anyway. The echoes in some places are -wonderful, and I'll answer for the food being wholesome. I'll go down -to Phelan immediately after breakfast." - -Big Jim Phelan was at home in his cottage--not the shelter that -covered him in the summer, but the one which the high and mighty of -the land could rent for eight to twelve pounds a month when they -wished to enjoy the sea. - -O'Brien explained his design. - -"Are you mad, sir?" said Jim, drawing back from the chair which he had -placed for his unexpected guest. - -"No. Why? What's mad about it? I and my friend want to see the caves, -and they are just as good at this time of year as in summer. Will you -take us?--Yes or no? Or are you afraid?" - -"I'm not afraid of anything that swims or walks or flies, Mr. -O'Brien," said Jim in a tone of indignant protest. "But nature is -nature, and it's not right to fly in the face of nature." - -"Face of fiddlesticks!" said O'Brien. "What has nature to do with our -going to visit the caves? If you don't take us, some one else will. -what on earth do you mean by 'flying in the face of nature'?" - -"Go to the caves at this time of year!" said Jim, in a musing tone of -voice. "Why, no one ever thought of such a thing before!" - -"What difference does that make? No strangers are here, except in -summer; and of course the people of the village never want to go to -the caves either winter or summer, unless they are paid. Come on, Jim; -don't send me off to look for some one else. I like to stick to old -friends." - -Phelan reflected awhile. There was no greater danger on such a day as -this in going to the caves than on the finest day in July. But the -novelty of the idea was almost too much for Jim. That any man in his -sober senses could even during the dog-days want to go to the caves -was wonderful enough; but that a man, and, moreover, a man who had -lived most of his life hard by, could think of exploring those gloomy -vaults in the chilly, damp days of spring, was too much for belief. -O'Brien was liberal, and if he happened to spend a couple of the -summer months at Kilcash, as he had hinted, Jim was certain to be a -few pounds the better for it. But it wouldn't do to give in too -easily. - -"Mr. O'Brien, if you're bent on going, of course I must take you. I'll -go to the Cove of Cork for you, sir, single-handed, in my own yawl. -But mind you, sir, it wasn't I that put you up to going. If you ask me -my advice, I say don't go. I won't take any of the responsibility, -mind, sir." - -"All right," cried O'Brien, with a laugh. "You know as well as I do -that there is no danger on a calm day like this. How soon will you be -ready?" - -"I'll have to get a man to go with me, and gather a few hands to help -to launch the yawl. Will an hour be soon enough, sir?" said Jim, who, -now that he had decided on action, was already busy in preparation. - -"Yes; an hour will do. How is the tide?" - -"About an hour flood." - -"And how will that answer for the Red Cave?" - -"Red Cave!" said Phelan, pausing suddenly in his preparation. "Is it -Red Gap Cave you're thinking of going to, sir?" - -There was a sound of uneasiness in the boatman's voice. - -"Yes. Isn't it the largest? Isn't it the one they say has never been -explored?" - -"Ay, sir. It never has been explored fully, and I don't suppose ever -will--for what would be the good?--and it isn't over agreeable in -there, with its windings and twistings, I can tell you. I don't mind -much about the Red Cave itself; but, Mr. O'Brien, it's only a little -bit beyond the Whale's Mouth, and you have some queer notions about -that cursed place; and, mind, I'll have nothing to do with it for love -or money." - -"I didn't say anything about the Whale's Mouth," said O'Brien, in a -tone of irritation. "I asked you how is the tide for the Red Cave? -Can't you answer a simple question?" - -"The tide is always right for the Red Cave," answered Phelan, -sullenly. "You can always go into it when the water is smooth." - -"Very well. I'll expect you on the strand by the rocks in an hour;" -and saying this, O'Brien left the cottage and set out for the hotel. - - - - - CHAPTER XLI. - - AT THE WHALE'S MOUTH. - - -Red Head is about a pistol-shot from the Black Rock to the east. It is -a tall, perpendicular red cliff, more than a hundred feet high, -projecting from the land a few hundred yards, and rising up sheer out -of deep water. In places it overhangs slightly--in places reclines. -The rocks of which it is formed are in no place angular, show no sharp -fracture, declare no brittleness in formation. They are rounded and -smooth like the human hand, abrupt nowhere, save in their giddy -descent to the water. - -The middle of the Head is cleft in two a hundred yards inward. This -cleft is called the Gap, or the Red Gap, and is as wide as the nave of -St. Paul's. At the depth of a hundred yards in the Gap the height of -the opening suddenly grows less, and the mouth of a huge cave is -formed by the precipitous sides, and an irregular, blunted, Gothic -roof of the same firm, smooth red rock. The vast chamber, or system of -chambers, beyond, is the Red Gap Cave, for brevity called the Red -Cave. - -At the time appointed, O'Brien and Paulton found Jim Phelan and his -mate Tim Corcoran afloat on the bay by the flat stretch of rocks which -served Kilcash as a landing-stage. Billy Coyne had brought down a -basket of food, some torches, a crimson light, and gun--the torches -and light to illumine the gloom, and the gun to awaken the echoes of -the vast vault. - -The day was fair and bright, with chill spring sunshine. Overhead vast -fields of silvery white clouds stretched motionless across the full -azure sky. There was no breath of wind, no threat of rain, no look of -anger anywhere. The waters of the bay moved inward with a silken -ripple that scarcely stirred the yawl as she glided slowly onward. -When she reached the open water beyond the bay, and headed first south -and then east, she met the long, even Atlantic roller, which glided -towards her and under her as silently and gently as a summer's breeze. -No sound broke the plenteous silence but the ripple of the water -against the sides, the snap of the oars in the rowlocks, and the dull -beat of the waves against the foam-footed crags. No ship, no boat, no -bird was in view. The solitude of the air and sea was complete. The -sounds of the sea on the crags seemed not the distant notes of opening -war, but the soft prelude to long, breathless peace. - -They rowed in silence until they were close to the Black Rock, until -it rose dark, inhospitable, forbidding above them. Phelan was on the -stroke, Corcoran on the bow oar. The yawl was now abreast the point at -which the Black Rock joined the cliff at the westward. There was no -rudder to the boat. On that coast rudders are looked on as foppery. In -smooth weather the stroke steers from the rowlocks; in a sea-way some -one steers with an additional oar from the sculling notch. O'Brien and -Paulton were aft, but there was no oar in the sculling notch to steer -with. - -They were keeping a clean wake, and owing to the swelling out of the -Black Rock they would, if they held on as they were going, pass within -a few score fathoms of the Whale's Mouth. It was now about half flood. - -All at once Jim Phelan began to ease without looking over his -shoulder. - -"Pull, after oar--ease bow!" sang out O'Brien, quickly. - -The bow eased as ordered, but, contrary to the order, the stroke oar -stopped pulling altogether, and Phelan looked up with an angry -expression at O'Brien. - -"I said ease bow--pull stroke," said O'Brien, quickly, in a tone of -irritation. - -"And I say--stop all," said Phelan, decisively. - -Corcoran rested on his oar, and for a few seconds O'Brien and Phelan -sat looking at one another. It was plain O'Brien was angry, and that -Phelan was resolute. Paulton had no key to the difficulty. The clumsy -yawl rose to the top and slid into the trough of two long, slow -rollers before either of the men spoke further. - -Jim Phelan peaked his oar and broke silence. - -"Mr. O'Brien, I told you I wouldn't, and I won't. That's all." - -"You won't what, you stubborn fool?" - -O'Brien was hot, but he had not lost his temper. - -"I told you," said Phelan, leaning his great body forward, and resting -his hands on his thighs, "as plain as words could be that I'd have -nothing to do with the Whale's Mouth. You may not care about your -life, Mr. O'Brien, but I have people looking to me. You're -independent, and can do what you like; but neither for you nor any -other man will I go nearer than I think safe to the Whale's Mouth. The -Red Gap is bad enough at this time of year; but not at this time of -year or any other will I have anything to do with that cursed hole in -the Black Rock here. Now, sir, am I to put about?" - -"I think you're taking leave of your senses, Phelan," said Jerry, -testily. "What on earth put it into your head I wanted to go into the -Whale's Mouth? Why, if I wanted to do anything half so plucky as that, -I'd get a man with a _red_ liver, and a heart as big as a sparrow's! -Give way, I tell you." - -An ugly look came into Phelan's face. He was not bad-tempered or -quarrelsome, but he justly had the reputation of being the most daring -and the strongest man in the village. He was not very intelligent, and -this was the first time in his life he had been accused of cowardice. -He felt more amazed than angry, but he felt some anger. He knew he -could, if he chose, catch O'Brien by the feet and throw him over the -gunwale as easily as the oar lying across his legs. For a moment he -thought the cold swim would do O'Brien good, but almost instantly he -saw the punishment would be out of proportion to the offence. He drew -a deep breath, partly straightened himself, and, catching his oar, -said: - -"Are we to go on to the Red Gap, sir?" - -"Yes, confound you!" said O'Brien, far from amiably. "Keep as close to -the rock as you think is _safe, quite safe_, Phelan. I wouldn't risk -your life for a thousand pounds." - -"Thank you, sir," said Phelan, sullenly. "Neither would I--in a cave; -but if it came to anything between man and man----" - -"I know," broke in O'Brien, with a laugh, "you'd be glad to risk your -neck to satisfy your anger." - -He had suddenly regained his good humour. - -"That's it," said Phelan, laconically, as the yawl moved on. - -Paulton looked in surprise from one to the other. O'Brien smiled and -shook his head to reassure him, but said nothing. Visibly the spirits -of the little party were damped. - -At length they were opposite the much-dreaded Whale's Mouth. The two -rowers, at the request of O'Brien, peaked their oars a few fathoms out -of the direct set of the in-draught, now at its greatest strength. - -The wall of rock, in which the opening of the cave appeared, was at -this time of tide almost square, and considerably wider than the yawl -was long. Nothing could be more harmless-looking than the Mouth. Its -sides were smooth and almost perpendicular. No huge mass of rock hung -threateningly on high; the water beneath was pellucid, green, gentle. -No awful sounds issued from that Mouth. The internal sounds told of -little disturbance or danger. No sign of conflict appeared on the -sides of the Mouth or the water, or in the soft olive depths below. In -the heat of summer a stranger would have found it almost impossible to -deny himself the luxurious refreshment of repose in the moist twilight -of that water-cave. - -No teeth were visible; but the lithe, subtle, unceasing, undulating -tongue was there--the polished, subtle water. It rose and fell, -seemingly, as the water round it, in indolent, purposeless -indifference; and looking at the water merely, it seemed to make no -greater progress onward than the water outside and around. Yet the -gentle swelling and hollowing of the waves had a purpose underlying, -though they seemed, like other waves, to move tardily, almost -imperceptibly forward. But here the water was dragged onward occultly -by some power, and for some purpose unknown. The roof of the Mouth and -the jaws were powerless for evil. No teeth were visible in this -gigantic Mouth, but the unsuspected, oily, slimy water was there lying -in wait for the unwary, and fatal to all things that touched it. - -It was the tongue of the ant-bear that attracts, enfolds, and finally -engulphs its prey in its noisome maw. - -"Is that the Whale's Mouth of which you told me, Jerry?" asked Alfred. - -"That's it," answered Jerry, shortly. He took up one of the torches -lying on the stern-sheets and threw the torch towards the cave into -the sea. - -"It doesn't appear very dreadful now--does it?" - -"Watch that torch. No sea looks very terrifying in a calm," said -Jerry, sharply. - -He had not yet quite recovered from the passage of arms with Phelan. -The boatman had annoyed him by extravagantly over-estimating the -dangers and powers of the chasm, and Paulton now ruffled him by -seeming to make nothing of them. - -Slowly but surely the torch was carried towards the Whale's Mouth. -Slowly at first, but more quickly as it approached the rock, more -quickly as it approached the cave. Second by second the rate -increased, until, when it reached the Mouth and disappeared, it was -hurrying on as fast as a man could walk. - -"That's strange!" said Alfred. "I think you told me no one has been -able to find out where all this water goes to." - -"To a place that's more hot than comfortable," said Phelan grimly, -directing a look of inquiry towards Jerry. - -"It all comes back again," said Jerry. - -"Barring what doesn't," muttered Phelan. "Pull a stroke or two, Tim," -he said to the other boatman. "The current is under her keel already, -and bad as this world is, I haven't made my will yet. A couple of more -strokes, Tim." - -He looked at Alfred and addressed him, although he could not do so by -his name, as he had never heard it. - -"I beg your pardon, sir; but if you'd like to make money, sir, I'll -lay you the price of this day's work to a brass button you never see -that torch again, and I'll lie by to watch for it until the ebb is -done." - -Alfred did not answer. His eyes had been raised for a few moments, and -were now firmly fixed on the plain of the Black Rock. Jerry was -peering intently into the jaws of the Whale's Mouth. Phelan was -looking into Alfred's face to see the effect of his offer. - -"Jerry!" cried Alfred, abruptly. - -"What?" asked Jerry, without moving his eyes from the cavern. - -"There's some one on the Black Rock." - -"Good heavens!" exclaimed O'Brien, looking up. "Not Fahey?" - -"No," said Alfred. "It's Mrs. Davenport!" - - - - - CHAPTER XLII. - - THE RED CAVE. - - -There was no mistaking that figure, and if the figure had not been -ample confirmation of identity, there were the full widow's weeds, -and, above all, the pale, placid face. The full light of the unclouded -sun fell on her. The distance was not great, and she stood out in bold -relief against the white field of cloud stretching across the northern -sky. - -On impulse, Alfred rose in the boat, and took off his hat and bowed. - -She returned his salute, and without a moment's pause drew back from -the edge on which she had been standing, and disappeared from view. - -"Mrs. Davenport!" said Phelan, forgetting his ill-humour in his -surprise. "What a place for a lady to be all by herself! I thought -Mrs. Davenport was away somewhere in foreign parts." - -Alfred sat down. The boatmen had resumed their oars, and the yawl was -gliding steadily through the water. - -"Is the Rock really dangerous at this time?" asked Alfred anxiously of -Phelan. O'Brien was buried in thought, and did not heed what the -others were saying. - -"Not dangerous now, sir--not dangerous when the water is so smooth and -the air so calm; but if there's a little sea on, and a little breeze, -you never know what may happen here. Sometimes the sea alone will do -it, and sometimes the wind alone will do it, and sometimes both -together won't do it. You can only be sure she'll spout when the sea -is high and the wind a strong gale from the south-west. What surprises -me to see the lady there is because the place has a bad name, and she -was just standing on the worst spot of all when we saw her first." - -"How a bad name, and how the worst place of all? Are you quite sure -there is no danger to the lady now?" asked Alfred, struggling -violently and successfully to conceal his extraordinary solicitude. - -"I am perfectly sure there is no danger of the spout now. The reason I -said it has a bad name is because of all the people who were carried -off that Rock; and where Mrs. Davenport stood is just the worst spot -of all." - -"But Mrs. Davenport must know the Rock well. I dare say, as her house -is near, she often comes to see it." - -"Ay, she may often come to see it. But to see it and to walk on it are -different things. There are very few women in the village who would -care to go on it without a man to lend them a hand. Why, sir, it's as -slippery as ice, and two people fell and were killed on it out of -regard to its slipperiness." - -"Is there no way of landing here?" - -"No, sir. You can't get a foot ashore anywhere nearer than Kilcash. -You might, of course, land on many a rock here and there, but you -couldn't get up the cliffs. It's iron-bound for miles." - -"But could not the lady be cautioned in some way? She could hear a -shout even though we cannot see her. She cannot yet be out of -hearing?" Paulton could scarcely sit still in the boat. - -"And suppose she could hear a shout, sir, what could you tell her she -doesn't know? Do you think Mrs. Davenport has lived all these years -and years a mile from the Black Rock, and doesn't know as much as any -of us could tell her about it? Why, she lives nearer to it than any -one else in the world! Her next-door neighbours are, I may say, the -ghosts of men who lost their lives on that very spot." - -"What is that you're saying?" asked O'Brien, coming suddenly out of -his reverie. - -"Only, sir, that Mrs. Davenport's next-door neighbours are the ghosts -of the men who lost their lives on the Black Rock." - -O'Brien looked in amazement at the boatman. He had been recalled from -his abstraction by the word "ghost;" but he had not fancied, when he -asked his question, that the answer would lie so close to the thoughts -which had been occupying his mind a moment before. For a while he -could not clear his mind of the effect of this coincidence. - -"What on earth do you know or guess about the matter, Phelan?" he -cried, quite taken off his guard. - -"I suppose I know as much about the Rock as any man of my years along -the coast," answered Phelan, with a slight return of his former -sullenness. - -O'Brien at once saw that he had made a mistake, that Phelan's words -were perfectly consistent with ignorance of what he knew of the Fahey -affair--or, indeed, with the absence of intention to refer to the -Fahey affair. He hastened to put himself right. - -"Of course you do, Phelan," said he cordially. "No man knows more than -you. Excuse me for what I said. I was thinking of something else when -you spoke, and I did not exactly hear what you said. I did not mean to -annoy you. I was only stupid myself." - -Jim Phelan considered this a very handsome and ample apology, not only -for the words just then spoken, but for what had occurred a few -minutes before. - -"He was thinking, poor gentleman," thought Phelan, "of those -blackguards of Commissioners. I know how anxious a man gets about -fish." - -"He was thinking," thought Alfred, "of Madge. I know all about that -kind of thing." - -He had not been thinking of one or the other. He was wondering how -Mrs. Davenport would have been affected if the figure of Fahey -suddenly rose before her on that Rock. - -"This, sir," said the boatman, addressing Alfred, the stranger, "is -what we call the Red Gap, and the cave beyond is what we call the Red -Gap Cave--or the Gap Cave, or the Red Cave, for short." - -Alfred looked around him, and then up. - -Above towered the great perpendicular cliffs, silent and forlorn. From -the dark green water at their bases, to the hard, dark line they made -against the azure plain of sky that roofed the chasm, was no break, in -form or colour, no noteworthy ledge or hollow, no clinging weeds below -or verdurous patch above. All was smooth, and bluff, and huge, and -liver-coloured. - -A peculiar silence, a silence of a new and startling quality, filled -the gigantic cleft. The silence abroad upon the sea was that in which -vast spaciousness engulfed sound. Here adamantine walls, beetling and -threatening, a thousand feet thick, stood between the stagnant air and -the large breathings of the sea. The atmosphere was dense, motionless, -inert with salt vapours. The prodigious circumvallation of cliff -crushed vitality out of the air. There was a breathless whisper of -water against the sea line of the ramparts, and deep in the gorge of -the cave a smothered snore, like the hushed breathing of some -stupendous monster. - -The yawl glided slowly up between the closing walls of the Red Gap. No -one spoke. The two boatmen were indifferent to the place. O'Brien and -Paulton were lost in thoughts of diverse kinds, awakened by the -spectacle of Mrs. Davenport on the Black Rock. None of the men was -paying attention to the Gap. - -At last a sudden darkness fell upon the boat. O'Brien and Paulton -looked up. The sky was no longer overhead. A gloom of purple brown was -above them. The light of day stood like a lofty, luminous pillar in -their wake. They had entered the Red Cave. - -The boatmen ceased rowing, and Phelan lit a torch. - -For a few moments nothing could be seen but the blazing red torch -flare against a vast black blank, and round the glowing red boat a -narrow pool of glaring orange water. - -No one moved. No sound informed the silence but the hiss of the torch -and the profound sighs of distant, impenetrable hollows. - -The water illumined near the boat looked trustworthy, denser than -water, a ruddy platform with shadowy verge. No undulation moved over -its face save a dulling ripple caused by the boat's imperceptible -motion. The boat and figures in it seemed the golden boss of a fiery -brazen shield hung in a night of chaos. - -Alfred Paulton put his hand outward and downward. It touched the -gleaming surface of the water. He drew his hand back with a start. The -cold of the water froze his fingers, his soul. The water shone like -solid metal, felt less buoyant than the ruddy air he breathed. Instead -of resting on a firm plain of luminous beaten gold, the boat hung on a -faint, thin fluid over a sightless abyss. - -This was a terrible place. Here was nothing but space for thought--for -visions and fears too awful to dwell upon. Nothing was surer than that -no loathsome dangers lurked, or swam, or hung pendulous above. Nothing -was surer than that the imagination crouched back from dreads which -had never affrighted it before. - -This water was only phantom water. It was no better than the spume of -sea-mists held between invisible crags of blackness, of mute eternity. -If one should fall out into that water, he would sink through it swift -as lead through air. One would shoot down, and down, and down, giddy, -but not stunned. One would sink--whither? Whither? To what fell -intimacy with dripping rocks and clammy weeds and slime would one -come? What agonising sense of impending gloom reaching infinitely -upwards would lie upon one, as one fell! Would the falling ever cease? -Never, never. Nor would one live, for to fall thus for a moment of -time would serve to fill the infinite of eternity with chimeras of -ebon adamant too foul for human eyes. - -The oars dipped. The boat moved forward into the immeasurable -vagueness of shadow--into this sleeping chamber of night. It glided -over the silent floor between hushed arras, which saw neither the -gaudy sun that drowns in light the tender whisperings of the sea, nor -the silver moon that hearkens forlorn to the faint complainings of the -weary waves, arras woven of the flame of earth's primal fire, and -limned by night in the smoke of ancient chaos. - -Something floated from the side of the boat and shone a while in the -wake, and then was lost in the darkness as the boat moved slowly on. - -"Keep her west," whispered a voice in the boat. - -"We're keeping west," whispered another voice in the boat. The noise -of the oars in the rowlocks clanked in the echoes like the -complainings of a gigantic wheel whose bearings were dry. The whispers -came back from the echoes like the whispers of a Titan whose teeth -were gone, and whose tongue was thick with age or clumsy with disease. -The voice of the giant seemed near--on a level with the head. It -stirred the hair. - -The torch went out. - -"Light--give us light," whispered a voice in the boat. - -"Wait. Watch astern," whispered another voice. - -"Astern," whispered the awful, almost inarticulate voice close to the -ear, in the hair. - -Then all was still. The oars stopped. All eyes were, unseeing, turned -in the direction whence the boat had come. The faintest glimmer -indicated the opening to the cave. All was black as the heart of -unhewn granite. - -"Now watch," whispered a voice in the boat. - -"Now watch," whispered the echo against the throat and neck. - -"On no account start or stir. The report will be very loud. Hold on to -the thwarts. I am going to fire!" - -Blended with the earlier portion of this speech, the echoes gave back -a sharp battering sound like that of throwing metal from a height. -This was the cocking of the gun. - -When this sound ceased, the echo whispered: - -"Fire!" - -A jagged rod of flame and luminous smoke shot outwards and upwards -into the black void from the boat aft, and cleared the black space for -a moment. - -Then the clash and clangour of a thousand shattered echoes close at -hand bore downward on the head and bent the head, while out of -far-reaching caverns thunders were torn with shrieks and yells and -flung against concave-resounding roofs, until the whole still air of -the monstrous hollows roared, and secret off-spring tombs of darkness, -never seen by man, answered with fearful groans and shrieks of the -Mother Cave. - -Paulton let go the thwart, bent his head, flung his arms up, and -crossed them over his head. - -Here was the solid earth riven through and through with prodigious -thunders of all the heavens! - -The roar of sound fell to a shout, the shout to a groan, the groan to -a mutter. Then all was still, stiller than before--still with the -silence of annihilation accomplished. Nothing that had been was. The -echoes were dead, and would speak no more. The material had failed to -be, and only darkness and the unweary spirit of man remained. - -A voice whispered, "Watch." - -Some lingering phantom of an echo whispered in ghostly gutturals, -"Watch!" - -There was a hiss, a purple commotion on the surface of the water, in -the air on the wake of the boat. A cone of intense red flame, as thick -as a man's arm, rose up from the level of the water in the wake, and -stood a cubit high: - -The air took fire and burned, and out from the brown darkness leaned -huge polished pillars, copper-red, and broken walls, smooth pilasters, -and architraves keen with light, and sightless gargoyles blurred with -fire, and cloisters whose rich arches dripped with flame, and -buttresses with fierce outlines impacted on plutonian shade, plinths -with shafts of Moorish lightness and arabesques with ruby tags, sturdy -bastions and flat curtains, broken Gothic windows, capitals of -acanthus leaves flushed with ruddy flare. - -Aloft yawned arches and domes and hollow towers, vast in sombre -distances and sultry with hidden fires. The secrets of their depths no -eye could pierce. They were abysmal homes of viewless voices--homes of -virgin night. - -Hither and thither, chapels and aisles and corridors and galleries, -reached from the great central space into the copper gloom. Here above -the surface of watery floor stood columns of fallen pillars, masses of -broken walls, points of ruined spires. - -In the centre of the level floor rose a block of stone, flat, a little -above the surface of the water, and on this the headless form of a -colossal figure, showing in rude outline like an Egyptian sphinx. - -The ground was polished red granite here and there, ribbed with ruby -marble, that shone with dazzling brightness against the aqueous glare. - -On the pedestal of the sphinx the men of the boat landed, and stood to -gaze upon this Pompeii beneath Vesuvia's pall--this subterranean -Venice in ruins--this water-floored Heliopolis without the sun! - -There was a loud hiss. The blood-red architecture thrust forward in -fiercer light. A louder reverberating hiss, and all was dark! -Everything had vanished--had drawn back into immeasurable darkness. -The crimson light had burned down to the level of the tiny raft which -bore it, and the water of the cave had quenched its flame. - -All was black darkness, turn which way one might. - -"Light!" whispered Paulton, overcome by what he had heard and seen. - -"What is that?" asked O'Brien, catching Phelan's hand, and pointing -down to where the western gallery had glowed a minute ago. Light was -seen piercing the cliff to the westward. - -For a while no answer was given. Then, in accents of awe and fear, the -boatman answered: - -"A light--a light made by no mortal hand!" - -Far down in the gloom of the western gallery a yellow spot shone! - - - - - CHAPTER XLIII. - - A RETROSPECT. - - -Mrs. Davenport's visit to the Black Rock that day had not been one of -mere curiosity, although nothing of import to her life was likely to -result from it. Her career was over, if, indeed, it might be said ever -to have begun. - -In her younger days she had been abandoned by the only man she had -ever loved, and wed to a man whom she never loved, whom she could not -even esteem. She had sworn to love her husband; she had fairly tried, -and wholly failed. To her husband she had been a blameless wife, an -admirable companion. He had signified his approval of her conduct by -leaving her his fortune. All her lifetime she had been too proud to -care for money, and now she could not take it. Her father had -prevented her marrying the good-for-nothing, beggarly scamp, Tom -Blake, and forced her into the arms of the elderly, rich, excellent -Mr. Louis Davenport. In those days she had been torn by tempests of -love and hate, of aspirations and despairs, which no mortal eye had -seen, no mortal ear had heard. In the solitude of her own room, and of -the woods about her father's home, she had wept and stormed, and -pitied herself with the broken-hearted self-pity of youth. She had -cast herself against the bars that confined her, and wished that the -fury which shook her might end her. She had prayed in vain for death. -In answer to her passionate appeals for a shroud, heaven sent her a -bridal veil. When Blake gave her up, she did not care whether she -walked into an open grave or up to the marriage altar. She took no -interest in herself: why should she take interest in any one else? - -If Blake had asked her to fly with him then, she would have rushed -into his arms with unspeakable eagerness and joy. But he sold his -claim to her for a sum of money, and walked off with the cash in his -pocket! - -She then knew she was beautiful--one of the most beautiful women in -the country. Many men had sought her before Blake asked her for her -love. But up to his coming she was heart-whole. She had never -seriously considered any man. She thought little of the sex, of the -race, herself included. She took but a weak interest in this world, -and, up to the advent of her only sweetheart, would have stepped out -of it any day without much reluctance. She was a dreamer, and told -herself the hero of her dreams was not human. Then came Tom Blake, and -forth went her whole heart to him. She gave him all the love she had -to give. She told him her life had hitherto been dull, without -expectation, hope, love, sunlight; but that, as he was now with her, -and would, in spite of all opposition, be beside her all her life, her -soul was filled with ineffable hope, with delicious love, and the -dream-romance of her life had taken substantial form, which would be a -thousand times sweeter than she had ever dared to figure in her -thoughts. - -Her lover had no money. He had lost his patrimony. Her father had -nothing to give her, and---- - -And what? - -How was it to be? How could they live on nothing? She had been brought -up a lady, but her father was hopelessly in debt--over head and ears -in debt--and if he were ever so willing to do so, he was powerless to -help them now, and could leave them nothing later. - -True--most sadly true. But what of that? Was Tom not her lover?--and -was he going to die of hunger? Did he not think he could get enough -money somehow to keep him from falling by the way? - -No doubt. But she had been tenderly, luxuriously brought up. He had no -means of keeping her in any such position as she had all along in life -enjoyed. - -But he could get bread? Not literally only bread, but as much as they -paid a gamekeeper or a groom? - -Oh, nonsense! Of course he could. But gentlefolk could not live on the -wages of a gamekeeper or a groom. - -Did he love her? - -Very much. But a gamekeeper got no more---- - -Than a roof, and clothes, and food, and--love. How much did he love -her? - -Oh, better than anything else in the world. - -Well, then, let him take time and look around him, and get house, and -clothes, and food such as gamekeepers and grooms may have. Those would -be his contributions to their lives. She would supply the love. - -But lady and gentleman could not live in such a way. - -Why not? He was a gentleman, and she was a lady, and poverty could -take none of these poor possessions away, any more than riches could -create them. Let him get a gamekeeper's wages, and she would share -them with him, and give him all her love, every day renewed. - -But---- - -Ah! Then all she had to give was not worth as much to him as a -gamekeeper valued his own wife at. Good-bye. The air was damp, and -this wood was chilly. - -Yes, it looked as if it were going to rain. She would not leave him -thus. She would say good-bye to him, and give him one kiss at parting. - -She would say good-bye, and he might have as many kisses as he cared -for, provided she got soon away--for it was going to rain. No man had -ever kissed her but him. Kisses did not mean anything, or words -either. Why did he draw back? She told him he might kiss her if he -chose. Any man might kiss her now. Kisses or words did not mean -anything. Well, good-bye. Whither was he going? It would surely rain. -Whither, did he say? - -"To hell!" - -"No, not there. You are a gentleman, and gentlemen do not go there; -only gamekeepers and grooms--and women such as I." - -She walked slowly away through the moist wood in the drizzling rain. - -He felt sorely sorry and hurt, and ill-used by fate; but he had a gay -disposition, and was no dreamer. Besides, he was a man of the world, -and devilishly pressed for money just then; so he took Louis -Davenport's thousand pounds and went away. - -After a while she married the odd, rich, old bachelor, Louis Davenport -(she did not care what man kissed her now), and he took her away to -Kilcash House, and although he never laid any restraint upon her, she -knew he did not care that she should go much abroad; so she lived -almost wholly in the house, and rarely went out alone, and never had -any guest at the place. - -Mr. Davenport was at home most of the time. Now and then he went away -for a few days, and always came back alone. There were no callers at -the house, and she at first hoped she might die, and when she found -her bodily health unimpaired, looked forward with a sense of relief to -the time when she should go mad. - -Still her mental health held out as well as her bodily health, and -weeks grew into months, and found no change in her or her manner of -life. - -But there came a slight change in her home. During the first few weeks -of her married life no stranger ever crossed the threshold of Kilcash -House. - -Now a tall, gaunt, humble-mannered man, of slow, soft speech and -unpretending ways, was often with Mr. Davenport for a long time in the -day, sometimes far into the night, The husband never took the wife -into his business confidence, and the wife had no curiosity whatever. -But from odd words she gathered that this young man, whose name was -Michael Fahey, depended on her husband, and was helped and received by -him because of some old ties between the families of both. She heard -Fahey was staying at the village of Kilcash for his health, which was -delicate, and that he was completely trustworthy and well-disposed -towards Mr. Davenport. - -All this reached Mrs. Davenport without leaving any impression -whatever on her mind beyond the simplest value of the words. Her -husband introduced Fahey to her as a man in whom he took a sincere -interest, and whom he wished her to think well of. Whether he intended -his wife should or should not treat the stranger as an equal, she did -not know, she did not care. - -For a time she took little heed of Fahey, but gradually it dawned upon -her that in him she had a new admirer. She was accustomed to -admiration, surfeited with it. Her love romance was at an end. She was -married to a man for whom she did not care, from whom she did not -shrink, to whom she owed no ill-will, who was in his poor, narrow, -selfish way good and kind to her. If she had now any commerce with -laughter, she would have laughed; but even the pathetically absurd -experience she had had of love could not provoke a smile, and she -simply took no heed, said no word, gave no sign. She did not feel -angry, flattered, amused, even bored. She was past any of these -emotions now. She would, she could be no more than indifferent. - -Nothing could be more respectful than Fahey's manner. He did not -regard her as human. He worshipped her afar off. He ate his heart in -silence. He breathed no word, no sigh, gave wilfully no sign. But she -saw his downcast or averted face, and she read the homage in furtive -glances of his wondering eyes. - -Then came the scene with the rose and her husband's absence abroad, -followed by his return, and a brief history of the marvellous escape -he had from that French bank, and his resolution that he would now -settle down in life and speculate no more. She then had but a dim idea -of what speculation meant, of what his business was. - -Soon came a day of mystery and horror to her. - -She was alone in the little sitting-room on the ground floor, purely -her own. It faced west. Broad daylight flooded the garden before her, -the rolling downs beyond. - -Suddenly the light of the window by which she sat was obscured. The -window was opened by Fahey. She motioned him to enter. By way of reply -he made an impatient gesture. - -"Is he in?" asked Fahey, breathlessly. - -"No," she answered. "Can I do anything for you?" - -She now saw he was in violent agitation, and physically distressed. - -He continued: - -"I have not a moment to spare. Say to him, 'All is well. All is safe -for him.' I have arranged that." - -"Safe!" she answered. "Does any danger threaten my husband?" - -"Yes, while I am here--while I live." - -"You--you would not hurt him?" - -She remembered the look of admiration she had seen in this man's eyes, -and rose and recoiled in horror. - -"Give him my message. Repeat all I have said, except this: 'I am not -doing it for his sake, or my own sake, but for yours. Good-bye.' Tell -no one else of my being here; no one but him--not a soul." - -In a moment he was gone. - -The next thing she heard of him was that he had drowned himself in the -hideous Puffing Hole. - -At first she had been inclined to think Fahey's words referred solely -to his feelings towards her; but when she learned he had drowned -himself she doubted this. Against what was her husband secure? To say -he was secure against Fahey's admiration for her would be the height -of gratuitous absurdity. She cared no more for the young man than for -any misty figure in a fable. He must be mad; yes, that was it. That -supposition made all simple--explained everything. - -It was night when her husband returned. She, remembering Fahey's -caution, and bearing in mind that walls have ears, went to the gate of -the grounds, and there met Davenport. He had heard of Fahey's fate. It -was dark--pitch dark--when she gave him the message with which she had -been charged. - -"Poor Michael!" her husband said--"poor Michael! Unfortunate fellow!" - -He said no more then, and rarely spoke of the man afterwards. -Davenport was not a communicative man, and there was nothing -noteworthy in his silence. - -After her husband's death she went through his papers, and found -evidence of a much closer intimacy between Fahey and him than she had -till then suspected. There was no clear evidence in these documents. -They were partly in her husband's handwriting, partly in Fahey's. -There was an air of mystery in them, and she was certain many passages -of them were figurative. But one dreadful secret she learned from them -beyond all doubt: Louis Davenport had not come by his money fairly, -and Fahey was an accomplice in his schemes. When leaving London for -the Continent, she had carried those papers with her unread. There she -opened them, with a view to destroying them, and burned them in -terrified haste. She had never suspected her husband of dishonest -actions. Now she felt perfectly sure he had come by his money foully. -How, she did not know. The man had been her husband, and she would -shield his memory from shame; but she would touch none of his money, -let who would have it, when she got back to London. - -She was convinced Fahey had not thrown himself into the Puffing Hole -for love of her, or because he was insane, but solely and simply -because he and her husband were mixed up in crimes of some kind, and -Fahey preferred death to discovery on his own part, and on her part -too; for she would suffer from the exposure of her husband, and Fahey -had nothing to expect from her. There was still a want of clearness -and precision about the whole affair. But on her way back from France, -she had no doubt her theory was right in the main. - -Before the inquest she had been in horror of revealing in court the -history of the treatment she had received at the hands of Blake, and -the bare notion that she, being then a married woman, had driven this -man Fahey in a frenzy of self-sacrifice or devotion to drown himself, -filled her mind with thoughts of shame and anguish, the contemplation -of which nearly took away her own reason. She had contemplated making -away with herself rather than face the ordeal of the court. She had -been a recluse for years, and haughty in her consciousness of -unblameableness all her life. - -On her return to London she heard the rumour of this apparition at the -Puffing Hole. Phelan had told of the apparition to several people in -Kilbarry. The news of it had got into the local papers, and London -papers copied the account. No name was given but Fahey's, and attached -to his name was a brief history of Fahey's disappearance years ago. - -Upon these two discoveries she resolved to go to Ireland and renounce -all claim to the fortune her husband had left her. There could no -longer be in her mind any doubt that her husband's fortune, or a -portion of it, had been obtained by fraud. At Paulton's she met -O'Brien, who, on the way to Ireland, told her he himself had seen -Fahey. - -She was now quite sure Fahey was still alive. The horrible suspicion -had taken hold of her mind that Fahey had, after keeping in hiding for -years, poisoned her husband for her sake! In the light of her belief -that Fahey still lived, the theory that her husband had poisoned -himself while of unsound mind was absurd to her. - -Before setting out this day for the Black Rock she opened a drawer of -her late husband's, took out a revolver she knew to be loaded, and -dropped it into her pocket. - -When she left the edge of the Black Rock she walked carefully to the -cliff and ascended by the path. - -When she reached the level of the downs she gazed round. - -She started. A loud explosion rose from beneath her feet. It was the -gunfire of the boat and the tremendous reverberations from the caves -and cliffs. - -She looked round in alarm. A minute ago she had been alone. Now -Michael Fahey stood by her side! - - - - - CHAPTER XLIV. - - A LAST APPEAL. - - -"Michael Fahey! Michael Fahey!" cried Mrs. Davenport, slowly. "Am I -awake and sane?" - -"Both," answered he, gently. "You are awake and sane, and I am Fahey, -and alive. Nothing can be more incredible; but it is as I say, Mrs. -Davenport. You will not betray me? You will not be unmerciful to me? -Remember, I never meant to do you harm." - -She shrank back from him. Did this man, whose hands were reddened with -her husband's blood, dare to plead to her for mercy. "Betray you! What -do you mean? Do you call it betraying you to give you into the hands -of justice? You will gain nothing by threats. I am not afraid of you; -and I am not defenceless, even though I am alone." She moved further -off, and pressed the revolver in her hand. - -He seemed dejected rather than alarmed. "What good can it do you? When -I disappeared years ago, it was for the good of your husband----" He -held out his hands appealingly to her. - -Her tone and attitude were firm, as she interrupted him. "You -disappeared years ago for the good of my husband, and reappear for his -death--for his murder! I can have no more words with you. I shall -certainly not shield you from the consequences of your crime." - -"If you only knew me as well as you might--if you could only -understand how I felt that day I was hunted like a beast, you could -not believe I would willingly do anything to annoy, much less to harm -you.... Mrs. Davenport," he burst out, vehemently, "I would have died -then for you: I will die now if you bid me--die for that second rose." - -She looked at him with a glance of loathing, and gathered herself -together as though she felt contaminated by contact with the air he -breathed. - -"Go away at once. Your audacity is loathsome. Has it come to this with -me, that I must bandy words with such a monster?" - -"Mrs. Davenport," said he, in a tone of expostulation, "I am very far -from saying I am blameless. I have committed crimes for which the -punishment would be great, but I was not alone in my crimes. I did not -invent them." - -"And who invented the atrocious crime of last February? Who was in our -house in Dulwich that night?" - -"I read the case, and saw that Mr. Thomas Blake was at your house on -that night." - -"And where were you?" - -"In Brussels. Good heavens!--you cannot imagine I had anything to do -with that awful night! The idea is too monstrous to resent--to think -of for a moment. I swear to you I was in Brussels at the time, and -that I never did, or thought of doing, any injury to your husband. I -loved him well; but I loved some one else better---better than all the -world besides." - -He did not look at her, but kept his eyes fixed on the sea. - -She moved as if to go. - -He heard the motion, and went to her and stood between her and the -house. - -"I will not say another word about myself; but hear me out. If I have -nothing to hope for, let me go away in the belief I am not unjustly -suspected by you of hurting your husband. I never cared much for my -life. Let me feel that when I die I shall not be worse in your eyes -than I deserve to be. Mrs. Davenport, hear me." - -He entreated her with his voice, with his eyes, with his bent body, -with his outstretched hands. - -Without speaking, she gave him to understand he might go on. - -"I knew Mr. Davenport years before I saw you. I had business -connections with him which would not bear the light. You must have -heard or guessed something of what we have been busy about?" - -She made no sign--said nothing. - -"I was a steel engraver. Now and then he wanted plates done. I did the -plates for him." - -"What kind of plates?" - -She betrayed no emotion of any kind. Her voice was as calm as though -she was asking an ordinary question. - -"You had better not know. It would do you no good to know. But do you -believe me that I was hundreds of miles away from London that awful -night?" - -"And what brought you back to this place now?" - -"I came back--because you are free!" - -She made a gesture of impatience and dissent. - -"You do not mean to say you will continue your suspicion in the face -of my denial, in the face of my horror at the mere thought?" - -"But why should I take your unsupported word? If you are innocent, why -were you so horrified at the mere thought of inquiry?" - -"But, good heavens! Mrs. Davenport, you did not for a moment imagine I -was afraid of inquiry into anything which occurred in February? I -thought the inquiry to which you referred had reference to some old -transactions between me and Mr. Davenport?" - -"What were these transactions?" - -"I beg of you not to ask. What good can it do to go into matters so -far back? You would find my answers of no advantage to you." - -"Were they of a business character?" - -"Purely of a business character, I assure you." - -"And they would not bear the light?" - -"Not with advantage to me." - -"Or to my husband?" - -"Or with advantage to your late husband." - -"And to you, and to you alone the secret of these transactions is now -known?" - -"To me, and to me alone." - -She paused in thought. She held up her hand to bespeak his silence. -After a few moments' pause, she said: - -"In the course of these transactions injury was done to some one? Was -that not so?" - -"You are asking too much. Neither your happiness nor your fortune -could be served by my answering your questions. I refuse to answer." - -With a gesture, she declined to be satisfied with this treatment. - -"I have no fortune and no happiness. Once you told me you would do -anything I requested of you if I gave you a rose. There are no roses -now. In all likelihood there will be no more roses while I live----" - -"While you live!" - -"Let me go on. I have not much to say. You could not prize a rose for -its intrinsic value?" - -"No; but for two other considerations--for the fact that it had once -been yours, and for what the gift of it from you to me might signify." - -"If I gave you a rose now it could signify nothing--mind, absolutely -nothing. But if the mere fact that it belonged to me would make -anything valuable in your eyes, I will give you my glove, or my -bracelet, or this for your secret;" and she drew from her pocket the -revolver and pointed it at him. - -He started towards her at the sight of the weapon, crying angrily: - -"What do you mean by carrying that? Great heavens, it cannot be that -you came out here with the intention of committing suicide!" - -He looked at her in horror. - -"No," she answered quietly--"but with the intention of defending -myself against you. I thought if I should meet you, and you had -murdered my husband, and knew from me I had guessed it, that I might -need _this_. But I have no evidence you did murder him, and I see no -sign of guilt in you. Will you take it, or the bracelet, or the glove, -or all three, and tell me about those transactions in which my husband -was engaged with you?" - -"It is not enough for my secret," he said. - -"What more do you want? My purse?" - -She put those questions in a placid tone, and showed no impatience or -scorn. - -"No," he said, shaking with conflicting passions, "I do not want your -purse. If I wanted money, I could have had as much as any man could -care for out of your husband's purse. I have enough for myself. You -cured me of the love of money, and put another love in its place. Give -me your hand, or fire." - -She raised her hand quickly, and flung the revolver from her over the -cliff. It fell on the Black Rock beneath. The fall was followed by a -long silence on both sides. - -"I make one last appeal to you," she cried in soft, supplicating -tones--"one last appeal. I do not purpose keeping a penny of the -money--not one farthing. Some papers which fell accidentally into my -hands after my husband's death convinced me he came by his money -dishonestly. He himself told me you had been of great service to him, -and that your actions would not bear the light. Give me, for pity's -sake, a chance of restoring this money to those who ought to have it. -I did think of dying and shielding his memory, for if I died no one -could be surprised at my leaving the wretched money to charities. But -it would be better still to give what remains of the money to the -rightful owners. Will you tell me who they are?" - -She caught his hand in hers and drew it towards her. - -He seized hers eagerly, and held it. - -"I will for this," he whispered. "We can give all his money back if -you will." - -She snatched her hand away. - -"That is impossible, sir. I have told you so finally." - -She essayed to pass by him once more. - -"Only a minute. I cannot live openly in this country; I must go -abroad. I have been concealed close to this place in the hope of -meeting you. I may never see you again. Do not go for a minute. Your -husband was always good and loyal to me, and I was always loyal to -him. He dealt honourably with me in money matters. It was necessary -for us to have a hiding-place near this, and I found it. Just before I -disappeared he made up his mind to abandon business of all kinds. He -had enough of money, and so had I--though of course he was a rich man -compared with me. Well, as you know, I disappeared. I went, no matter -where. I disappeared because I had no longer any business here, and -because of another reason to which I will not again refer. That is all -I have to say, except that I left documents which would be -intelligible to your husband--they contained the clue to our -hiding-place should I die or your husband want it--in Mr. John -O'Hanlon's hands for Mr. Davenport and you. Nothing, I suppose, ever -reached you about them?" - -"No." - -"That, then, is all I have to say." - -"You will tell me no more? Give me no key?" - -"Mr. Davenport left you his money. Why should I help you to get rid of -it? Good-bye." - -He turned eastward, went along the cliff, and she moved off slowly in -the direction of Kilcash House. - - - - - CHAPTER XLV. - - BEYOND THE VEIL. - - -It was Phelan who said it was not the hand of mortal man that had -kindled the fire the four men in the Red Cave saw after the dying of -the red light on the water. - -For a long time after he had spoken no human voice was heard. All was -silence save the mystic whispers and breathings of the cave, which, -after the prodigious clangour lately filling the void, were no more -than the ripple of faint air flowing through mere night. - -The three men watched the light breathlessly. At first it seemed -steady, but now it began to waver slowly this way and that way, like a -warning hand admonishing or threatening, a spiritual hand beckoning or -blessing. - -It was not crimson, as the other flame had been, but pale yellow, like -the early east. It was not fierce and dazzling, but lambent and soft. -It was not light in darkness, as a zenith moon, but light against -darkness, as a setting star. It was independent, absolute, taking or -giving nothing. Space lay between it and the eyes that saw; infinity -between it and the sightless vault. - -There was something in this cave that killed you, and yet in that -place you must not die. - -"Heaven be merciful to us!" whispered a human voice. - -"To us," whispered the phantom voice against the men's hair. - -"It's the corpse-candle of the dead men of the Black Rock," whispered -Phelan. - -"Of the Black Rock!" echoed the spirit. - -The words "Black Rock" acted like a charm, and broke the terrible -spell of the place. Never before had the name of that fatal and hated -shelf of land sounded grateful to human ears. - -The two boatmen had been often in that stupendous cave before, had -seen its colossal glories in the ruby flare, and heard its -reverberating thunders in the inexorable gloom. But never until now -had they gazed upon this weird light; they were certain that if it had -existed when they had been visitors on other occasions they could not -have missed observing it. - -What they now saw made a profound impression on them, and powerfully -excited their superstitious minds. They had never rowed to the end of -that eastern shaft of the labyrinth, but they knew from the sharp turn -it struck west, and the great depth to which it penetrated, that the -onward limit of it must be near the rear of the Black Rock. - -This filled them with doubt--uneasy doubt. Owing to the darkness and -the nature of the remote light, they could not form an exact notion of -its position, but they guessed it to be no less than a mile from the -Red Gap, and, allowing for everything, that would be the back of the -Black Rock. - -Why should there be a light at the back of the Black Rock? How could a -light be accounted for there? except it was a corpse-candle on that -murderous reef. - -It was a thought to shudder at. - -With the other two men the effect was wholly different. Neither had -ever been in this marvellous place before; neither had seen its -sights, or heard its sounds, or endured its darkness until now, and -their imaginations had been powerfully excited and exercised. At one -time they were exalted by the visible--at another overawed by the -unseen. Sobriety of thought and familiarity of experience were absent, -and they were face to face with things undreamed of and enormous, and -with phantoms and monstrous ideas that baffled investigation and -pursuit. - -But to them the mention of the Black Rock meant the re-entry of -ordinary ideas and homely thoughts. It lay out there in the noonday -sunlight beside the sunlit sea. It was part of the pastoral land where -people sang and trees waved their leaves and winds bore perfumes. -There was nothing more disquieting about it than about a ship, or a -house, or a rampart. - -O'Brien's thoughts had now gone back to their ordinary course. If this -light came from anywhere near the Black Rock, might it not have -something to do with the Puffing Hole? - -The question was fascinating, alluring. It might prove a beacon to -discovery. - -"Where do you think it is from, Phelan?" he asked, in a whisper. - -"Somewhere near the Black Rock. I can't say exactly where." - -"What do you believe it is?" - -"A corpse-candle. The corpse-candle of the men that the Rock killed." - -"Nonsense! You ought to know better. A corpse-candle is not for the -dead--it's for the living." - -"Above ground it may be so. But under ground it may be different." - -"Let us go and see what it is." - -"Not a stroke." - -"What, Phelan!--afraid again? There's hardly a thing you are not -afraid of." - -"I'm not afraid of you or any other man." - -"If you don't go to it with me, I'll swim to it." - -"If you do, it will be _your_ corpse-candle." - -"I don't care. If you won't go, I'll swim to it. If you don't make up -your mind while I'm counting twenty, I'll dive off and swim." - -"It would be murder to let you, O'Brien. Put it out of your head. We -won't let you go." - -None of the men could see where another was standing. - -O'Brien laughed. - -"You can't touch me--you can't stop me." - -"Whisht--whisht! For heaven's sake, don't laugh. This is no place for -laughing with that candle before you." - -O'Brien laughed softly, and counted, "One." - -"If you laugh again, by heavens, I'll throw you in, O'Brien." - -"Two!" O'Brien laughed. "Then you won't let me count twenty? You -launch me on my swim at 'three'?" - -"He'll bring the cliffs down on us." - -"Four! Ha, ha, ha!" - -Up to this the words and the laughter had been in whispers. This time -O'Brien counted and laughed out loud. - -The effect was prodigious. Those vast chambers of solemn night had -never before heard human laughter, and they roared and bellowed, and -yelled and shrieked, and grumbled, as though furiously calling upon -one another to rush together and tear asunder or crush flat the -impious intruders who dared to profane with such sounds the sanctuary -of their repose. - -"I'll go," whispered Phelan--"I'll go. But--wait!" - -A torch was now lit, and by the aid of its fitful flame the four men -scrambled into the yawl. The two rowers took their places standing and -facing the bow. O'Brien held the flaring torch on high, and the -boatmen gave way. - -As they glided gently along, the irregular walls of the aisle came -nearer to them out of the darkness with a nearness that was sinister -and hateful. It was as though they crept close with the full intention -of crushing the craft and grinding the men to death between their -ponderous fangs and molars. They seemed avengers of the echoes -outraged by the laughter. - -The luminous shaft still shone; but as they came nearer, the light -grew whiter and less like flame. The red glare of the torch seemed to -overcome it. - -The men watched it with starting eyes. - -The walls of the cave came closer out of the darkness, and the roof -lowered. - -By this time Phelan had lost all his fears, and was as curious as the -others to know what the light was. - -All at once he cried out--"Ease!" - -Both men stopped rowing. The sound of the oars ceased, and the noise -of the ripple from the oars. All listened intently. A hissing sound -could be distinctly heard--a loud hissing sound which they had not -noticed before, because, no doubt, of the gradualness of their -approach and the noises made by the rowers. - -"It's water--falling water. But, in the name of all the saints, where -is it falling from, and how can we see it in the darkness? Give way, -Tim." - -The cave grew narrower still, and now there was barely room for the -shortened oars. The sides of it came closer, the roof lowered until it -was no more than an arm's length above the heads of the standing men. -The bright patch grew higher and broader. The torch still burned. A -dull whiteness shone on the rocks. - -The luminous space now looked like a faintly-lighted sheet of glass. -The hissing sound of the water had gathered intensity. - -"I don't know what's beyond, but I'll risk going through if you are -willing," cried Phelan, who was now in a state of almost frenzy from -suppressed excitement. - -"Go on--go on!" shouted O'Brien, who found it difficult to keep from -jumping overboard. - -"Go on!" repeated Alfred, who, too, was now standing up. - -"Give way with a will!" shouted Phelan; and in a minute the boat shot -through a thick sheet of foam and falling water, and glided into a -placid pool. - -For a moment the men were blinded by the foam and water, and could see -nothing. - -They rubbed their eyes, looked up obliquely, and were blinded once -again. - -The mid-day sun flamed above their heads at the end of a stupendous -tube. - -An indescribable cry arose. Then all was still. - -A crow flew between them and the sun. All bent their heads and -crouched low as though instant death was rushing down upon them. The -crow went by harmlessly. - -"Do you know where we are?" asked Phelan, in the voice of an awestruck -child. - -"No." - -"At the bottom of the shaft of the old mine. It slants to the -southward, and that's the sun!" - -They looked around: some wreckage floated on one side of the boat. - -"The planks that covered the mouth of the shaft. They must have fallen -in." - -Something that was not a plank floated on the other side of the boat. - -It was the body of Fahey! - - - - - CHAPTER XLVI. - - AN EVENING WALK. - - -"Yes, Madge, 'twas an awful time. I never felt anything like it in my -life; and as for Alfred, he was stunned with terror. You see, that old -mine shaft had followed the soft part of the cliff (there's not much -use in looking for copper in solid sandstone), and so was like a huge -telescope, pointed south at some angle or other--the angle, I think, -at which you are now holding your chin." - -"Jerry, don't talk nonsense." - -"You'd be very sorry indeed if I didn't. Well, we hauled the dreadful -thing we had found into the boat, and then began to think of getting -back; but Phelan, the boatman, swore he would not go through that -awful Red Cave with it on board. - -"We looked round us to see the best thing we could do. We found we -were in what I may call an under-ground pool, from which there were -three ways out--one leading into the cliff, one leading in the -direction of the sea, and the one by which we had entered. Am I tiring -you with my long-winded description?" - -"No, Jerry--go on; I came out to hear all," said Madge, pressing the -arm on which her own rested. - -"We first tried the way towards the sea, and found, to Phelan's -amazement and consternation, that it led right under, or, rather, -through the Puffing Hole. No power on earth could induce Phelan to go -that way. When we made this discovery, I now plainly saw the meaning -of those mysterious measurements and instructions left by the -unfortunate Fahey, and the means by which he had effected his -extraordinary disappearance years ago. He had jumped down and swum -inward to where we had found his dead body. In his 'Memorandum,' 'Rise -15.6 lowest' meant what I had expected--the rise of the lowest tide. -'At lowest minute of lowest forward with all might undaunted,' meant -that one entering at the Whale's Mouth at the lowest minute of the -lowest tide was to push forward with all vigour.... But, Madge -darling, this must bore you to death?" - -"No, Jerry, I love to hear it. Just fancy having the hero of such an -adventure telling it quietly to me on the Dulwich Road!" - -"Twenty years hence how sick you'll be of these same adventures! You -will then have heard them told at least a thousand times to every -fresh acquaintance I make--man, woman, or child. But you'll be -very tired of me also, sweetheart, and you shall go to sleep in an -easy-chair while I prate on." - -"Don't say such horrid things, or I shall cry. Please go on." - -"Ah, well, you may bully me now, but you won't then. Where did I leave -off, darling?" He pressed her arm and she pressed his. - -"At the man going up under the Puffing Hole. The paper he left with -your solicitor." - -"Our solicitor--say our solicitor." - -"Our solicitor. There! But how tiresome you are!" - -"Oh, ay! I have the whole thing off by heart. The 'Memorandum' goes -on, 'The foregoing refers to s-c-u-l-l-s with only one s-k-u-l-l any -lowest, or any last quarter, but great forward pluck required for -this. In both cases (of course!) left.' You see, here he underlines -the words 'sculls' and 'skull,' which shows something unusual was -meant. Remembering everything, 'sculls' evidently meant _sculls_, as -very few people have more than one skull, and 'skull' meant what it -seems to mean--your head. By-the-way, I beg your pardon. It's only men -have skulls, not angels.' - -"Jerry, I'm going home." - -"Well, I won't, I won't! Put your arm back. Let us, in fact, have an -armed peace." - -"This kind of thing, Jerry, is very bitter, and I feel as if--as -if--as if----" - -"As if what?" - -"As if I can't help liking you--sometimes when you're nice." - -"I'll be good and nice. Well, what he meant was that when you wanted -to get at his hiding-place by the sea, in a boat pulling sculls, you -came and did certain things; and that when you wanted to get there by -jumping down the Puffing Hole, you did other things. - -"When we came back to the foot of the shaft the sun had gone off it, -and it was comparatively dark. We tried the passage leading inward, -and here we found Fahey's hiding-place. It was a small low cave, with -a rocky ledge about as wide as the footway we are walking on.... -Madge, are those new boots? They look new. I wonder did I ever tell -you I think you have awfully pretty feet." - -"I give you up. You are incorrigible." - -"As I was saying, we found a ledge of rock about as broad as your -foot. This was Fahey's retreat, and here were all the materials used -by the forgers of bank-notes. How Fahey got them there unobserved is -the puzzle. He must have brought them piecemeal Here, beyond all -doubt, were printed the notes forged upon the bank of Bordelon and -Company, of Paris, by means of which Mr. Davenport stole a colossal -fortune. - -"Here we found an explanation of how Fahey's suit of clothes lasted -ten or twelve years. We found two suits precisely similar. He kept one -to wear, no doubt, while the other was drying. There was a place which -had evidently been used as a fireplace, and although there was water -so close to this ledge, it was above the highest reach of the highest -tide, and dry as tinder. The dryness of the place and the salt of the -sea-water had preserved these clothes from decay, while most of the -metal things had crumbled into dust. - -"He must have discovered this place in his boat, and after that found -out the shaft of the mine communicated with the whole cavernous -system, which is so vast as to stagger the mind. Thus he had two means -of gaining his retreat; and when he said he had lost his boat, she was -safely moored in the cave in case of emergency--for we found the -painter-chain hanging from a bolt." - -"But what of that light you saw that turned out to be water? And did -the miners work in the sea?" - -"Attentive and intelligent darling, I thank thee. The theory is that -Fahey, in falling or sliding down the shaft, struck the western wall -of the pool in which we found him, and brought down a huge mass of -clay which was ripe for falling, or that it had fallen recently, or -that our gunshot had brought it down. The curtain of water was formed -by a spring of fresh water. There are always dozens of such springs in -cliffs. As to the foot of the shaft, the explanation is that at the -time the miners were at work the sea had not eaten so far inward. In -fact, that whole district is and has been gradually so enormously -undermined, that soon a mighty subsidence must take place." - -"But you say that the hole down to the mine slanted. How did he get up -and down? It would have been barely possible, but dangerous, to crawl -up." - -"He had a rope by which to hold on, and while holding on thus, he -could walk upright--that is, hand over hand. Before the fall of the -planks that covered the top of the shaft, Fahey had crept out by a -small opening looking seaward, and concealed from view, if any one -ever should be so foolhardy as to go there, by a thick growth of -furze." - -"Well, what did you do afterwards?" - -"When?" - -"You told me only as far as coming back from the Puffing Hole." - -"True. Well, we laid what remained of the unfortunate man on the rock -which had often been his resting-place before, and then rowed back -through the wonderful Red Cave, and put the matter in the hands of the -police. At the inquest all about the forgery of Davenport and Fahey -and the swindle on the Paris bank came out, and Mrs. Davenport was -examined, She admitted Fahey had made love to her, as you saw by the -papers. Wasn't it strange that Alfred should be the first to see her -husband and her husband's partner in guilt dead, and not by natural -means, and that at both inquests she spoke of a new lover, and that -Alfred, the newest lover of all three, should have been at both -inquests?" - -"It is astonishing and terrible. I wonder what will come of it?" - -"Heaven knows. But there, let it go now, Madge. When you come to -Ireland, love, you shall see those wonderful caves." - -"I'd rather die," she said, "than go near them." - -"What!--if they were lit by the glorious effulgence of this splendid -specimen of the O'Briens?" - -This dialogue took place one day after dinner in the June following -the visit to the cave. The villainous Fishery Commissioners had been -overcome, and Jerry and Madge were to be married in a week. - -Alfred Paulton was still at the "Strand Hotel," in the village of -Kilcash. - - - - - CHAPTER XLVII. - - CONCLUSION. - - -"Marion, will you not listen to me?--will you not listen to reason? -Your fortune, you say, is now all gone--must be restored to its lawful -owners, the Paris bankers, and that you have made the necessary -arrangements for doing so. You are bankrupt in fortune: why should you -be bankrupt also in love?" - -"Understand me, Thomas Blake, I will speak on this subject no more to -you. I do not think you will have the bad taste to remain any longer -in this house when I ask you to go." - -"I will do anything on earth for you, Marion--anything in reason you -ask me." - -"Then go." - -"But is that reasonable? Is it reasonable to ask me to leave you now -that you are as free as you were in the olden times?" - -She looked at him wrathfully, scornfully. - -"Have you got a second bidder for me in view? Did you not take my -heart when it was young, when you were young, and sell it for a sum of -money down? You know there is no one in this house but servants. Save -yourself the ignominy of my ringing the bell. Sir, will you go? I have -affairs to attend to. You have broken your promise by renewing this -subject." - -"Why did you telegraph for me to London?" - -"Because I thought you might be useful to me, and you have proved -useless." - -"And if I had proved useful, would you have rewarded me?" - -"Yes." - -"Oh, Marion, Marion, you are playing with me! Do you mean to say you -would have allowed me to hope if I had proved of service in that -affair? I did my best. I swear to you I did my best, and if you will -only give me your hand now----" - -"Thomas Blake, I would have rewarded you by saying that your debt to -me had been diminished by one useful act of yours. But my contempt for -you would have been just the same. Take your elderly protestations of -love to fresh ears. Mine are too old and too weary, and too well -acquainted with their value, to care much for them. Go now. When I -have need of you again I shall send for you." - -"Marion, this is too bad. You are treating me as if I were a dog." - -"Worse--much worse. We were intended for one another. Once I would -have died for you; now I cannot endure you except when I think you may -be of use to me. I shall send for you if I should happen to want you -again." - -His face grew white, and he set his teeth. They were in the green -drawing-room of Kilcash House. The full June sun was flaming abroad on -the sea, and shining in through the windows. - -"You outrage me. I am not accustomed to be----" - -"Told the simple truth," she said, finishing the sentence for him. "I -threatened to ring." - -She went to the bell-rope. He sprang between her and it menacingly. - -"I believe you are capable of violence," she said, surveying him with -a taunting smile. - -"I am capable of murder." - -"Only for plunder," she said, still smiling. - -He ground his teeth. - -"You will drive me to it, Marion Butler." - -At the mention of her maiden name, a swift flush of crimson darkened -her face. Her eyes flashed, her nostrils dilated, her head bent -forward, her mouth opened, the veins in her temple swelled. She -clenched her hands--her bosom heaved--she stood still. - -The sudden change in her appearance arrested his anger. He believed -she was going to have a fit. Her maiden name had not been purposely -uttered by him. It loosed some current in the brain which had not -flowed for years. - -Awhile she stood thus. Then all at once the colour fled from her face, -and left it pallid, cold, rigid. She pressed her hand once or twice -across her brow, and then, looking at him intently for a few moments, -said, in a quiet, weary voice: - -"I am ill. Leave me; but come to me soon again. In an -hour--half-an-hour. I did not mean what I said. Pray leave me, and -come to me soon. I shall be here. I am confused." - -Without speaking, and scarcely believing the words he heard, he stole -from the room. - -She sat down on a couch and covered her face with her hands. - -"Wait," she said softly to herself. "There is something I must -do--something I have forgotten. Oh, I know! He is an honourable -gentleman, and must not be disregarded." - -She went over to a table, found writing materials, sat down, and -wrote: - - -"Dear Mr. Paulton, - -"I got your note this morning. I told you the first time you did me -the honour of offering me marriage that there was no hope. I am sorry -to say I am of the same mind still. You will forget and forgive me in -time. I shall never forget your kindness to me in my distress. - - "Yours sincerely, - - "Marion Butler." - - -She read the note over and over again from top to bottom. Something in -the look of it did not please her, but she could not think of anything -better to say. She had received a note from him that morning, asking -her to grant him another interview. He had proposed to her a week ago. -She had told him plainly she would not marry him. He had begged that -he might be allowed to call again. She said it was quite useless. He -craved another interview, and she gave way, on the understanding no -hope was to be based on the permission. He had come again, and again -had been refused. And now he was asking for a third chance. She would -not give it to him. It would be worse than useless under the -circumstances. There was something wrong with this note, but it must -serve, as Tom Blake was waiting. - -She put the letter in an envelope, addressed it to Alfred at the -"Strand Hotel," Kilcash, rang the bell, and sent a servant off with -it. - -When it was gone she said: - -"I must go now and meet Tom. He said he'd be---- Where's this he said -he'd be? Oh, I know! By the corner of the wood on the Bandon Road. -I'll put on the white muslin Tom likes. If Mr. Paulton should come -they must say I am out." - -Alfred Paulton got the note, and although he could not understand the -signature--it was no doubt the result of a lapse of memory, in which -she went back for a moment to her girlish days--he knew his dismissal -was final. - -That day he set off for London, and arrived in time to see Madge -married to his old friend, Jerry O'Brien, who was secretly delighted -at the failure of Alfred's suit. - -While Jerry was on his honeymoon he got a letter from his old friend -and solicitor, the postscript of which gave him the latest news of -Mrs. Davenport: the doctors had pronounced her hopelessly insane. - - - - THE END. - - - * * * * * * * * * * - CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS, CRYSTAL PALACE PRESS. - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Tempest-Driven (Vol. III of 3), by Richard Dowling - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEMPEST-DRIVEN (VOL. 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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/42752-8.zip b/42752-8.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 36e494d..0000000 --- a/42752-8.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/42752-h.zip b/42752-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 6cb6870..0000000 --- a/42752-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/42752-h/42752-h.htm b/42752-h/42752-h.htm index 3bab105..1830462 100644 --- a/42752-h/42752-h.htm +++ b/42752-h/42752-h.htm @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ <meta name="Publisher" content="Tinsley Brothers"> <meta name="Date" content="1886"> -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <style type="text/css"> body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} @@ -93,43 +93,7 @@ p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:0em;} </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Tempest-Driven (Vol. III of 3), by Richard Dowling - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Tempest-Driven (Vol. III of 3) - A Romance - -Author: Richard Dowling - -Release Date: May 20, 2013 [EBook #42752] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEMPEST-DRIVEN (VOL. III OF 3) *** - - - - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the -Web Archive (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) - - - - - - -</pre> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42752 ***</div> <br> <br> @@ -453,7 +417,7 @@ important matter----"</p> whole time. I'm not a cot-man. Look here: you know it's only a few of the greatest minds that can attend to two things at the one time. You can't give your soul to fish and yet devote yourself to cows at the -one moment, except you are a person like Julius Cæsar. He could +one moment, except you are a person like Julius Cæsar. He could dictate and write completely different things at the one time."</p> <p class="normal">"Could he? He must have been very clever."</p> @@ -4409,379 +4373,6 @@ Mrs. Davenport: the doctors had pronounced her hopelessly insane.</p> <br> <br> - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Tempest-Driven (Vol. III of 3), by Richard Dowling - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEMPEST-DRIVEN (VOL. III OF 3) *** - -***** This file should be named 42752-h.htm or 42752-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/7/5/42752/ - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the -Web Archive (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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