CHAPTER XXXV
THE LAST TWIST IN THE YARN
"This alarming discovery," proceeded Sir Bromley, "caused an alterationin Mr. Goode's plans.
"The doctor was so horrified at the idea of being compelled to live inthe same house with so dangerous a charge that he threw up hisremunerative appointment, with a promise of secrecy, leaving Goode tohis own devices. This was less than a year ago. The doctor had given hisopinion that the child--he was really a boy of sixteen--could not livemore than a few months, but the merchant felt his position was not safe,for the young doctor had settled down to practice in the neighbourhood.It was absolutely necessary to leave Scotland, and one day, afternightfall, a special train carried an old gentleman, with a number oflarge packages, one labelled 'Live dog, with care,' being taken in thecarriage to Derby, where sundry moves were made in order to throw apossible pursuer or busybody off the track.
"Shortly after, a Major Jones-Farnell moved into Durley Dene aftercarefully arranging matters with a house agent. At Derby, a servant hadbeen engaged by Mr. Goode, and this servant reappeared at Northden withFarnell. He had been discovered by mere chance. His name was Horncastle,and he had escaped from Dartmoor a few months before.
"To alter my story from the third to the first person, I had obtainedthe very creature I required--a strong man, who would be of realassistance to me in the care of the maniac prince, and one who, insteadof being able to hold the threat of exposing my secret over my head,would be unable to breathe a word of it, for fear I in my turn shouldbetray his secret--that he was a convict, wanted by the police.
"Unfortunately, the man soon perceived that I was more in his power thanhe in mine. My secret was one that I would not risk being revealed inorder to punish Horncastle by handing him over to the police for hisfrequent misbehaviour. He compelled me to pay him good wages, and supplyhim with unlimited quantities of drink. Fortunately, he was never drunk,in spite of what he took. I say fortunately, for had he ever visited theroom in which our prisoner was shut up while intoxicated, the cunningmaniac would have certainly effected his escape, with dire results--tome, to the Princess H----, in fact, to Great Britain, for he would haveat once been recognised, since the boy was the very image of his deadfather, whose features were well known to all who had ever opened anillustrated magazine, or inspected photographs in the book-sellers'windows.
"The lunatic was as cunning as he was powerful. I need not refer to theterrible cries he was wont to utter, for I believe at least one of youheard a specimen of his heart-breaking screams. At last it becamenecessary to drive him into a corner whenever the door of his cell wasopened. Accordingly I sent Horncastle out one day for a whip, with whichwe were able to frighten him off when he attacked us. By the way, Ipresume I need not explain why the convict disguised himself as a woman.You will have already guessed as much.
"You will know, too, why you were not allowed to expose what you have sofancifully described as the 'House of Strange Secrets.' I think that isall.
"My patient was released from his sufferings last night. He was firsttaken dangerously ill when you visited me for the second time. He wasburied by me at midnight. I have informed the unhappy Princess H---- ofthe fact, and expect to hear soon from her, and know whether all I havedone has been satisfactory. It seems strange to have to bury a Royalchild in unconsecrated ground, but what else could I do?
"My duty to my country, for I consider it amounts to that, isaccomplished. To-morrow Major Jones-Farnell and likewise Doctor OrlandoMeadows will cease to exist, and the world will shortly learn that, by astrange series of circumstances, Sir Bromley Lestrange has returned fromthe grave. It will appear that he did not die of cholera, but while veryunwell was kidnapped by Chinese pirates, by whom he was kept a prisonerfor over a dozen years. He recently escaped, after hair-raisingadventures, and returns to tell one of the strangest stories it ispossible to imagine!
"What about Horncastle, do you say? Oh, I settled that gentleman veryeasily. Directly after the death of my charge I paid him a month'ssalary, and despatched him promptly, in his female disguise. He daren'tbetray my secret. If he did, who would believe him--a criminal and aconvict of the worst type? Besides, he could never find the boy's grave.And I know he would not, even in revenge for his dismissal, sacrificehis liberty for some five or six years. No; I don't think we shall hearmuch more of Mr. Horncastle.
"Now, Miss Scott, I must bid you farewell for the present. If in my newcapacity I shall be so fortunate as to receive an opportunity ofrenewing our slight acquaintance, we must meet as strangers. You mustnever have met Sir Bromley Lestrange before. And the same applies toyou, Carrington; is it not so?
"Well, I see that, now you have got all you want out of me, I am one toomany. No? Ah, you are too polite to say so, but I was young once,and----To-morrow you will find the Dene uninhabited, the furniture itcontains being left as a present to the next tenant. If you care for anylittle memento, you are at liberty to adopt Horncastle's profession forthe nonce--you will find the door unlocked, and the old house is nolonger a hiding-place for secrets and bogies. Well, good-bye. I think Ihave earned my rest."
He rose, and the young couple accompanied him to the door, where theytook a cordial leave of him.
Returning to the drawing-room, Laurence informed his fair companion ofthe remarks made by Mrs. Knox.
"She said that we were to settle the matter ourselves," he added; "andnow, dear, that the mystery is solved, you have no excuse forwithholding your answer. What is it to be--Lena?" He paused, fromnervousness, then proceeded, when the girl hung her head and made noreply: "You know your aunt would be very disappointed if you didn'taccept her choice of a husband!"
"Auntie wouldn't care in the least," replied Lena, laughing lightly."You won't be angry, will you, if I confess I told her to say what shedid?"
"Lena!"
"I thought it would be such a splendid joke to pretend I was alreadyengaged, only auntie didn't keep it up long enough. She's a good oldthing, rather dense, but good nature itself. I can twist her round mylittle finger."
"That's not the question," replied Laurence, seizing theopportunity--and her hand; "what I want to know is if I may twistsomething else--not Mrs. Knox--round one of your little fingers. May I?"
Lena's reply was not a verbal one, but it was quite as expressive as anywords could have been!
THE END
The House of Strange Secrets: A Detective Story Page 35
