The Third Volume

by Fergus Hume

  CHAPTER XXXIX.

  THE GARNET SCARFPIN.

  THAT same evening Claude called to see his father. He decided to goalone, but asked Tait to repair to Rose Cottage within the hour, sothat, the meeting with his newly found parent having taken place, aconsultation could be held by the three regarding the proceeding with,or withdrawing, of the case. Tait especially stipulated that thisarrangement should be come to, as he was desirous of seeing Mr. Larcher,senior, in order to disabuse his mind of the straight-forwardness ofHilliston. Privately, Tait believed that the lawyer would yet be foundguilty of the crime. On no other grounds could he explain the attitudetaken up by Hilliston since the papers had been placed in Claude'shands. The evidence of Miss Pike and Dick Pental failed to alter hisidea on this point.

  Tait himself was beginning to feel weary of the investigation. At everyturn it took he was baffled by some fresh obstacle, and he was notill-pleased to find that the matter was at an end so far as Claude wasconcerned. That young man had sworn to avenge the death of his father;but now that his father proved to be still in existence, the oath wasnull and void. So that, Claude married to Jenny, he would be quitewilling to leave the solution of the mystery surrounding the death ofJeringham to Tait; but Tait himself determined to have nothing furtherto do with so wearisome a problem.

  He waited considerably beyond the hour before leaving for the cottage,as he rightly considered the father and son would have much to say toone another. Moreover it was necessary to give Larcher time to overcomehis emotion on learning that his wife was still in existence. Tait wasby no means sure that the old gentleman would be pleased with thisrevelation. According to his own showing his relations with his wife hadbeen none of the best; and to renew those relations after twenty-fiveyears could hardly fail to be most unpleasant.

  During this time Tait gave no thought to Jenny or Denis. As to theformer, he was so satisfied that she was the daughter of Jeringham byMona Bantry that he did not think it worth while to give the matter thebenefit of the doubt. What he was curious to know was how Paynton, orrather Captain Larcher, came to stand in the position of an adoptedfather. Information on this point was conveyed to him before he reachedthe cottage by Denis himself.

  The old servant walked briskly along the road, looking quiterejuvenated. He had heard the good news, and it had transformed hislife. In place of a crabbed expression, his face appeared wonderfullycheerful, and he saluted Tait with a grin of pleasure. The other couldnot forbear commenting on his changed appearance, so clearly apparenteven in the waning light of evening.

  "Why, Kerry, you look ten years younger," he said, stopping short in hisamazement, with an afterthought of Dick Pental's accusation.

  "Ah, and I do that same, sir," said Denis, saluting in military fashion,"and you know why, sir."

  "Are they reconciled?" asked Tait, guessing what was in the mind of theold servant.

  "Begad, they are! Chattering together like two love birds, and my oldmaster looking on with pride."

  "Why, Kerry, I spoke of Captain Larcher."

  "Augh, did you now, sir? I spoke of Master Claude, God bless him, andMiss Jenny, God bless her! God bless them both!" cried Kerry, taking offhis hat, with a burst of affection, "and his honor along with them. Oh,glory be to the saints for this blessed day. But sure, I am forgettingmy service, sir. The master is waiting to see you this very minute."

  "I was just on my way," said Tait, signing to Kerry to go on. "We willwalk there together. By the way, does Miss Jenny know she is not thedaughter of your master?"

  "She knew it all along, sir. Ah, and why should you look surprised atthat, Mr. Tait? Is it because she is the niece of an old soldier likeme?"

  "No, no, Kerry! But, as you are aware, Miss Jenny knows the case fromthose newspapers she found; and in that report Jeringham----"

  "I see what you mean, sir," said Kerry, touching his hat in adeprecating manner; "but sure she doesn't know all. She believes herselfto be the child of my sister, Mona--who is dead, rest her soul, and of aMr. Kennedy. We've invented a father for her, sir. 'Twould never do forher to know she was the daughter of the poor man who was killed."

  "It is just as well, Kerry. Do you know who killed him?" Tait asked thisquestion with a keen glance at the man.

  "No, sir. How should I know. I ran out with the light when the captaincalled, but I don't know who struck him the cruel blow. He was a badman, sir, deceiving my sister, and disgracing the Bantry family, but heis dead, and she is dead, so we'll let them rest, and the heavens betheir bed!"

  By this time they were at the garden door, and striking his hand overthese sad memories Kerry led the visitor into the house, and showed himinto the bookroom. Here were assembled Claude, his father, and Jenny,all looking supremely happy, though the old gentleman appeared to berather shaken. He rose when Tait entered and held out his hand.

  "I am glad to see you, Mr. Tait," said he, in an unsteady voice, "and Ithank you for the way in which you have aided my son. I feel that anapology is due to you for my behavior on your last visit."

  "Don't mention it," replied Tait cordially, shaking the extended hand."Under the circumstances you could not act otherwise. Well, MissPaynton, am I to----"

  "Don't call me Miss Paynton now, Mr. Tait," she said, smiling; "therecan be no need for further concealment. I can take my own name, thatof----"

  "Miss Kennedy," said Tait quickly. "Do not look so surprised. Kerry toldme all about it as I came along. I am at once astonished and delighted."

  "I don't wonder at it," said Captain Larcher, patting Claude's hand."You see I have found a son."

  "And soon, sir, you will lose a daughter," observed Tait significantly.

  "Oh, no," observed Claude, with a laugh; "when I marry Jenny we will alllive together as a happy family."

  "Marriage! Has it come to that?"

  "You are astonished, I see, Mr. Tait," said the old gentleman, shakinghis head. "I am myself. It is too soon--too sudden. They have only knowneach other a few weeks, and it is impossible that a union on so short anacquaintance can prove happy."

  "We will have a long engagement," said Claude, "in order to prove if wetruly love one another. But I am not afraid of the result."

  "Neither am I," remarked Jenny, slipping her arm within that of herlover. "I am sure nothing will come between us. But come, Claude, and wewill see my uncle, for I notice that Mr. Tait is anxious to speak toyour father about that horrid case."

  Captain Larcher nodded his approval of this, so Claude and Jenny leftthe room to seek Kerry, and be wept over by the old servant. Left alonewith his host, Tait took a chair by the table, and they looked at oneanother in silence. The captain was the first to break it.

  "There is no need for me to recapitulate the events of the day," hesaid, with a weary sigh, "as Claude told me you read my letter, and arein possession of all the facts. You may believe, Mr. Tait, that I feelconsiderably shaken. My interview with Claude has been rather trying. Hehas behaved in the most affectionate manner."

  "Well, now your troubles are all at an end, Captain Larcher, and----"

  "At an end, sir!" he interrupted sharply. "No, they will continue. Myinnocence is not yet proved, and I must still remain here under afeigned name, unless you agree to help me."

  "Certainly I agree. Is it your intention and Claude's to go on with thecase?"

  "We have come to that decision, but I wanted to consult you beforefinally making up my mind. Do you think we ought to proceed?"

  "I certainly do," said Tait promptly. "It is true that the police thinkthat you are the victim. But if you want to assume your own name,inquiries would certainly be made. One is never safe in these criminalmatters, even after the lapse of years. If you did declare yourself tobe Captain Larcher, then it would come out that Jeringham is dead, andyou would have to clear yourself. Besides, the evidence of Dicky Pentalwould implicate you, seeing that he mistook you in that fancy dress forJeringham."

  "True enough
," replied Larcher, nodding. "And there is another reason. Ihave just learned that my wife is still alive, and is protected byHilliston at Hampstead. I sent Claude out of the room so that I couldask you a plain question. Give me a plain answer, and tell me what arethe relations between them."

  "I don't care to answer that plainly," said Tait, with some hesitation;"but I think you can guess."

  "Does Hilliston love my wife?"

  "On the authority of Miss Belinda Pike, whom I saw at Horriston, Ibelieve he does."

  "And for her sake he had deceived me all these years?"

  "It seems so. In fact, Captain Larcher, Hilliston has been playing adouble game. He kept you and your wife apart by assuring each that theother was dead. That conduct alone stamps him as a villain. Then, again,he threw all kinds of obstacles in the way while we were investigatingthis case."

  "What for?"

  "My own opinion is that Hilliston committed the murder."

  Captain Larcher clenched his hand, and thought for a few moments.

  "It might be so," he muttered, more to himself than to Tait. "Hillistonwas in the garden. If he loved my wife--a fact which I neversuspected--he might have killed Jeringham out of jealousy."

  "But the dagger! How did he obtain that?"

  "No doubt at the ball. I assure you, Mr. Tait, that my wife had not thedagger when in the sitting room."

  "She declares that she threatened you with it."

  "Then she either forgets or speaks falsely. She wore it at the ball whenI spoke to her there, but when she returned it was missing. Hillistoncame with me, knowing Jeringham was with my wife. He might have pickedup the dagger with the fullest intention of committing the crime. Nowthat I know he loved my wife I am not prepared to say how he acted inthe garden while I was in the house."

  "And the garnet scarfpin mentioned in the novel?"

  "That belonged to Hilliston," said Larcher quickly. "I gave it to himmyself. Denis picked it up in the garden, but I thought nothing of that,as I was aware Hilliston was in the grounds on that night. But now Ibelieve----Oh, I am afraid to say what I believe. I may be wrong."

  "There is one way of finding out the truth, Captain Larcher. Come up totown this week and see your wife. Then we may learn all."

  The old gentleman leaned his head on his hand in deep thought for a fewminutes.

  "I will come," he said at length. "At whatever cost, I will force theguilty woman to own the truth."