A Bottle in the Smoke: A Tale of Anglo-Indian Life

by Janet Milne Rae

  CHAPTER XXV.

  Mr. Rayner and his hostess had quite made friends when they parted nextmorning, he to accompany her husband to his office. He assured Mrs.Melford that he would not fail to return to tiffin, and also to availhimself of the pleasure of a sail up the Hoogly. Seated in his host'sgharry as they rattled along the bustling streets, Rayner contrasted itwith the leisurely ongoings of the Mount Road in Madras, and thecomparison seemed to him all in favour of the Europeanised city.

  "Why, one seems to live and move and be here, Melford!" he exclaimed."This place suits me down to the ground. I declare, I think I shall makea bid for a share of Truelove Brothers' lacs without delay!"

  The gharry now drew up in front of a handsome block of buildings towhich Mr. Melford introduced him as his employers' premises, and,alighting, he arranged to meet him again at Ballygunge Road, whither heintended to return when his call was over. "You'll easily pick up atikka-gharry at Truelove's. They're as thick as flies there about," hishost assured him as they parted.

  The quarters of the old merchants' firm looked more ancient and dullthan that of Melford's employers, but they had a dignified air ofrespectability which was quite in keeping with the best traditions ofsuch offices.

  Rayner handed his card to one of the _durwans_ in attendance in themarble-paved hall around which were many doors marked with the names ofthe occupants of the chambers. From one of these the _durwan_ emergednow and requested the visitor to follow him. He led him into a smallerhall from which a staircase led to the upper rooms; and into one ofthese, a large lofty apartment, Mr. Rayner was ushered.

  A tall, middle-aged man with a kindly, sagacious face was pacing up anddown dictating to a Eurasian clerk who sat at the table. He paused inhis walk, bowing to his visitor as he said: "How do you do, sir!"

  Rayner noticed that a pair of shrewd eyes were fixed upon him with aquiet, scrutinising glance.

  "Ha, he don't half like this chip of the old block coming to claim hisown," he said to himself as he returned the bow with a broad smile."Sorry to disturb you on a busy morning, sir. I've just remembered thatthis is our English mail day," he began, as the clerk began to gatherhis papers to retire.

  "Oh, as to that we're always pretty well up to time here," returned theother, motioning his visitor to the seat which the clerk had justvacated, and taking a chair opposite him.

  "Well, I suppose I'd better come to the point at once," began Mr. Raynerbriskly. "The fact is I've taken this run to Calcutta to see mybirthplace, and I thought I might use the opportunity to call on thepresent representative of Truelove Brothers. I believe you are now thesenior partner of the firm?"

  "I am," said Mr. Fyson laconically.

  "Well, naturally sentimental reasons prompted me to wish to see theinside of the business house where my father was a partner."

  Mr. Fyson raised his eyebrows but made no response.

  "I speak of David Rayner. Of course you are aware that I am his son?"

  "There was never a David Rayner partner in this firm, but I believe aJohn Rayner once held some office here."

  "My uncle, of course."

  "Your uncle, was he? I never saw Mr. John Rayner. He had left before mytime; but he held only a subordinate place in the firm. I could tell youwhat it was by looking up records."

  "It's of no account! Then, sir, if you were not in the firm at that timeyou may not be aware of the fact that my father, David Rayner, was apartner."

  Mr. Fyson shook his head negatively, and the young man continued in alouder voice:

  "Pray, why else does your firm supply me with an allowance?--has done sofor years--since I was a child of four, sent at my father's death toEngland with my aunt, Mrs. John Rayner."

  "Your father's death!" repeated Mr. Fyson; and Alfred Rayner feltcertain that his voice faltered when he uttered these words.

  "Ha, there's some villainy here--the old story I expect of an orphandefrauded of his rights," thought Rayner, but he resolved to be nothingif not practical, and bending forward with a facetious smile, he said ina tone of well-simulated frankness: "Well, I'll be open with you, Mr.Fyson. The fact is I came to see whether the firm can allow me a biggershare of the profits than I've been drawing. I'll even consent to letbygones be bygones if you'll deal straight with me at last. I'm a mannow and a lawyer to boot, and you'll not make me believe that the onlyson of an old partner of the firm has not a right to a bigger slice ofthe profits of this prosperous house than the paltry sums I've beenhaving."

  As he spoke he felt as if he were placing an ultimatum in the hands of atrapped man on whose face he now fixed his eyes, saying to himself:"He's fairly caught now, and if I can get gold enough to pull me throughmy present involvements I'll defer my claim for a time."

  He continued to watch Mr. Fyson, who preserved silence for some moments,his face wearing a perplexed air. Passing his hand across his forehead,his lips parted as if he were going to speak, then he closed them again,appearing still in doubt as to what his answer should be. At length hesaid very slowly:

  "Your plea for a larger allowance is unfortunately flanked by more thanone fallacy. I am really at a loss to know where to disentangle these."He cleared his throat and went on: "For the second time I must tell youthat no such person as David Rayner ever existed in this firm, either aspartner or underling. Second, that the allowance which you receive isnot from the profits of this firm but from a private source. In fact,you are not as you suppose the fatherless son of any old partner ofTruelove Brothers."

  "My allowance not from this firm!" cried Rayner in open-mouthedastonishment. "Do I not receive half yearly from your house the sum offive thousand rupees?"

  "It is true that the money does pass through our hands--more I am not atliberty to disclose," said Mr. Fyson firmly.

  "A plot, I declare!" cried the young man with flashing eyes. "Not atliberty to disclose where my income is derived from? Why, you forgetthat you are not addressing a child, but a member of the Madras bar anda sharp one too!" His temper visibly rose as he spoke.

  Mr. Fyson's keen face twitched uneasily. He patted the crisp paperswhich lay on his writing table and lowered his eyes as if to seekcounsel in a dilemma. Then, fixing his keen grey orbs on his visitor, helooked at him steadily as if to take stock of him more fully. He thenseemed to decide on his course of action, and began to speak in a matterof fact tone:

  "You mention your allowance--I should tell you that I have before meyour recent application for an increase----"

  "That won't satisfy me now! I want my rights," broke in Rayner sulkily.

  "Will you allow me to finish what I have to say without interruption?"There was a severe note in the senior partner's voice which acted as acheck. "I was about to write to you on the subject. My reply was to bethat your allowance will be increased on one condition only, that youwill give a pledge,--for the keeping of which due means will betaken--namely, that you will give up all betting, card-playing formoney, gambling in any form. If you agree to this I think I can ventureto say--in fact I am authorised to state that your allowance will bedoubled"; and again Mr. Fyson patted his papers.

  As he listened to the calm, even tones, Alfred Rayner's face darkened toa scowl which seemed to transform the smiling young fellow, who hadwalked into Mr. Fyson's room a few minutes before, into an evil spirit.

  "I never heard a more insulting proposal from one man to another!" heexclaimed in a choking voice. "Do you take me for a kid you can tie tothe leg of a table, that you are trying this impertinence on me? I tellyou I won't stand it for a moment! I'll have a case filed against you."

  The older man passed his fingers through his whitening hair and shookhis head in evident perplexity.

  "Come now, be reasonable," he began. "If these are the only terms onwhich you can double your allowance--and you admit that you are in needof money--don't you think you would be a wise man to close with them,now and here, and end this interview?" added Mr. Fyson, rising from hischair with an air of decision. His conciliatory tone was howev
ermisinterpreted by the younger man, who sprang from his chair withclenched hands.

  "You think to wheedle me, I see, but it won't do! I'll expose you, I'llput the matter into legal hands here where you are known, and I hope itwill ruin you. I'll have my rights I tell you--whatever it costs me," headded, coming a step nearer and looking with threatening eyes at thetall, impassive figure.

  "To what matter do you refer? To what rights, pray?" asked Mr. Fysoncalmly, putting his hands in his pockets.

  "As my father's heir I have a right to his estate. Don't you mistake,I'll be even with Messrs. Truelove Brothers yet"; and Mr. Rayner took astep towards the door.

  "One moment," said Mr. Fyson, taking his right hand from his pocket. "Iwant to repeat again that we are not your trustees, Mr.----" Here Mr.Fyson paused as if the surname had escaped his memory.

  "Rayner," supplied the other.

  "Ah, no--a better name!" murmured Mr. Fyson as he looked at the youngman, and a curious smile played about his lips.

  "Do you mean to give me the lie when I tell you my own name? This isinsupportable! Perhaps you think I'm an impostor? Yet do you notaddress--or cause to be addressed--all the remittances that come fromthis house to Alfred Rayner?" he asked, with a strong effort atcalmness.

  "I do--though with reluctance," replied Mr. Fyson slowly. "You havedriven me into a corner, young man! I feel that I owe it in loyalty tothe good man who is your father to tell you that he lives still, and totell you that the name he was induced--wrongly in my opinion--to consentto your bearing is not his"; and with a troubled air Mr. Fyson sat downagain at his writing table and glanced at his papers.

  "You lie, you lie!" screamed Alfred Rayner with almost feminineshrillness. His passion choked him for a moment, then, with an effort atcalmness, though he was still trembling all over, he called out:"Proof--I ask for proof, definite--immediate--of this astoundingstatement!"

  "Fain would I give you the proof you seek if it lay with me, but loyaltyto one of the best of men keeps me silent! But it appears to me that thehour has struck for a different course of action from that which hashitherto been maintained," said Mr. Fyson, with a stern light cominginto his eyes. "You have need to be disabused of some ofyour--hallucinations, shall I call them? I hope permission may be givenme to let you know the truth. I am sorry for your sake it has been solong withheld. I shall communicate with you in due course. Meanwhile, Ishould like to call your attention again to the offer your good fatherhas made. Will you agree to his terms? I have his commands to doubleyour allowance if you will only cease from vices which he holds--andrightly--to be soul-ruining. Now, sir, I desire to bring this interviewto a close," said Mr. Fyson, again rising, though his visitor stillstood as if riveted to the spot.

  The older man straightening himself put his hands in his pockets andbowed stiffly, then with a softened air he added:

  "I would fain believe all good of you as your father's son. I hope itwill be given to you to know him one day--and to know him will be torespect him as I have done for years."

  Somehow, as these words fell on his ear, Rayner seemed to movemechanically to the door, and stood outside it as if in a dream. He madea gesture as if he would re-enter, but appeared to decide against thestep. Clinging to the old banisters he walked slowly downstairs, andcrossed the marble-floored hall, the soft-footed _durwan_ opening thedoor for him noiselessly, he passed out to the busy street.

  He walked a few paces with unsteady tread, forgetting that he meant tohire a carriage. The noonday sun was beating fiercely on his head, butin the tumult of his thoughts he did not heed it. His first sense ofbeing completely foiled in his mission with Truelove Brothers waspresently succeeded by a suggestion of a different kind.

  "Why, this unknown pater of mine is evidently an important personage! Hemay turn out to be some big official--Lieutenant-Governor of a provinceor the like! The old merchant spoke of him with bated breath. What anidiot I am to be weighted down by a sense of failure! I've actuallyscored this morning after all. The old fool very nearly let the cat outof the bag though! If I had only hung about a moment longer I mighthave heard all. But I'll worm out the secret yet. A double allowance ifI turn Methody! Ha, ha! Why, lacs of rupees are more likely my rightfulportion!"

  Remembering his promise to return to Ballygunge Road to tiffin, hedecided to call a tikka-gharry, and was stepping into it when he wasaccosted by a young man with a cringing air whom he at once recognisedas Mr. Fyson's Eurasian clerk.

  "Beg pardon, sir, but a word with you for your own advantage!" he said,making salaams.

  "Well, out with it! I'm in a hurry," said Mr. Rayner in an impatienttone.

  "You see, sir, it's like this," began the man, putting his head to oneside. "I couldn't help hearing your talk through the door. You and themaster both havin' a kind of carryin' voice--not as I heard all yourtalk--but you want to know who your father is? Well, I can let you intothatt secret," he added, with a nod and a wink.

  "And pray what do you know about it?" asked Rayner coldly. "How can Ibelieve a word that you say when you stand a convicted eavesdropper?"

  "Oh, sir, don't say thatt," said the young man, glancing furtivelyround, his hands clinging to the window of the gharry. "But, look here,sir, if you'll trust me I'll give you his name and proof positive intothe bargain. Can't do it now, I see a fellow from Truelove's comin'along, and suspicion might be raised if you and me is caught hobnobbin'.They're terrible strict at our place."

  "Well, where can we meet?" asked Rayner, seeing the difficulty ofprolonging the present interview. "I'm a stranger to the town. I couldcome to your house this evening if you give me your address--that is tosay if you've got anything worth telling me."

  "Oh, sir, my house is too humble for a grand gent like you to come to,"returned the clerk, shaking his head.

  "Where then, quick, don't you humbug me a moment longer. Drive on,gharry-wallah," he shouted to the coachman, "I'm sick of this nonsense."

  "One moment," pleaded the other, making a sign to the driver, andputting his head in at the window of the gharry. "What price if I tellyou the secret and prove it?"

  "A ten rupee note will be ample payment," returned Rayner.

  "A ten-rupee note," echoed the clerk, withdrawing his head, then hethrust it in again. "Look here, sir, if you'll meet me at the Shrine ofKali at seven o'clock to-night--any gharry-wallah will drive you to thatplace, it ain't more than a mile off--I'll tell you what you want toknow and prove it, but not for one pie less than one hundred rupees. Idon't sell Truelove's best secret for naught," he added, with a cunningleer.

  "All right, I'll consider," said Rayner.

  The gharry-wallah waved his whip and began to thread his way along thecrowded thoroughfare.