The Five Knots
Page 12
*CHAPTER XII*
*IN THE RING*
Wilfrid sat smoking moodily till gradually the right course of actionoccurred to him. He was powerless to cope with these rogues. He wouldhave to place the matter in the hands of a solicitor. Of the fewlawyers in Oldborough Wilfrid was only acquainted with Mr. ErnestVardon, a rising young attorney, who had a branch office inCastlebridge. They had met on several occasions lately, and somethinglike friendship had grown up between them. At any rate, it would do noharm to consult Vardon, who, to a certain extent, was already familiarwith Wilfrid's position.
The prospect of action somewhat relieved Wilfrid's depression. He leftthe house and made his way to Vardon's lodgings. The latter had justfinished his dinner and was ready to hear what his visitor had to say,though he intimated that Wilfrid must not be long, as he had anappointment in Castlebridge late that evening.
"I have got a case there before magistrates to-morrow," he said, as helaid his hand upon a telegram lying on the table. "I have just had myinstructions by wire, and I want to see my client to-night. It hassomething to do with a fracas at Gordon's Circus, I understand. But Ican give you half an hour. What is the trouble, Mercer?"
By way of reply Wilfrid laid his letter upon the table and asked Vardonto peruse it.
"Well, that is plain enough, at any rate," he said presently. "I happento know something of these people; also something about Darton and Co.for the matter of that. More than one unfortunate client of mine hasfound himself in their clutches. My dear fellow, why do you letyourself be beguiled by these bloodsuckers? A man of the world, too!"
Wilfrid shrugged his shoulders impatiently.
"What is the good of crying over spilt milk?" he asked. "The thing isdone, and there's an end of it. As I told you before, I gave up mysea-faring life for the sake of my mother. I knew it was a risk, but Ithought that when I bought this practice I should have been in aposition to pay the debt off when it became due. I should never haveborrowed the money at all if I had not been definitely told that I couldrenew the bill when it became due."
"Ah, they are all like that," Vardon said. "And now they have turnedover your business to another firm who really want the money. Theywon't wait an hour, you may depend upon it. They will sell you up, andwhat balance remains will go in lawyer's costs, half of which thesesharks will share. You see, they have everything to gain and nothing tolose by crushing you; in fact, if you went with the money now they wouldbe rather disappointed than otherwise."
"Oh, I can see all that," Wilfrid said gloomily. "But why do they partwith my bill like this?"
"I give that up," said Vardon. "I suppose you don't happen to have madean enemy of either of these men? You haven't had any personalcorrespondence with them, or anything of that kind?"
"Nothing of the sort, my dear fellow. I can't understand it at all.And as to an enemy, why----"
Wilfrid broke off abruptly. A sudden uneasy suspicion filled his mind.Vardon's shrewd eyes were turned upon his face interrogatively. Hewaited for Wilfrid to speak.
"I dare say you will think it rather far-fetched," Mercer saidpresently, "but I have an enemy in the person of Mr. Samuel Flower, theship-owner, whom, strange to say, I have been attending professionally.Of course, I am telling you all this in confidence, Vardon. Do youhappen to remember a rather sensational case in which one of Flower'sships, the _Guelder Rose_, was mixed up? There was a mutiny amongst thecrew, and I had a considerable hand in it. I was the ship's doctor, youunderstand. Between ourselves, it was a shocking bad case, and ifFlower had had his deserts he would have stood in the dock over it.Instead of that, I nearly found _myself_ in the dock. I managed to keepout of the way, and as I had never seen Flower, I thought I was safe.It was strange that I should have been called in to see him the daybefore yesterday, but he did not appear to recognize me, and I thoughtit was all right. I foolishly let slip a remark that I had been aship's surgeon at one time, and I am sure now that it aroused Flower'ssuspicions, for he was on the alert at once. Mind you, he asked nofurther questions, and I thought it was all right. Now it occurs to methat Flower might be at the bottom of this trouble of mine, for it isthe sort of thing he would delight in."
"That he would," Vardon exclaimed. "Flower is just that type of man.Of course, I ought not to say so, but he is a thorough-paced rascal, andI am not the only man in the neighbourhood who knows it. I should notbe surprised if you are right. I am only too sorry that I can't helpyou."
Wilfrid sat there thoughtfully. He did not appear to hear what Vardonwas saying. Then he jumped suddenly to his feet and brought his fistcrashing down upon the table.
"There is no longer any doubt about it," he cried. "I ought to haveremembered it before. When I was in Flower's study the night before lastthere was a letter just begun lying on the table. I remember now thatit was addressed to Darton and Co., no doubt in connexion with this verytransfer. More than that, the letter was headed '_Re_ Mr. Wil----' andthere the letter broke off. You may depend upon it, that this 'Mr.Wil----' was meant for Mr. Wilfrid Mercer, and this is the result of thescheme. That man Cotter got all the information by telephone; in fact,Flower told me that he had been telephoning to London. And I am afraidthat is not the worst of it, Vardon. You see, some time before I camehere I met Miss Beatrice Galloway, and I don't mind telling you that Ihoped some day to make her my wife. Of course, I had not the remotestidea that she was connected in any way with Samuel Flower, or probably Ishould have attempted to restrain my feelings. But she knows that Icare for her, and I feel pretty sure that she cares for me. And when Iwas saying good-bye to her the night before last in the drawing-room atMaldon Grange, Flower came in, and--and----"
"You needn't go into details," Vardon smiled. "As an engaged man, I canimagine the rest. It is plain what Flower intends to do. He has foundyou out, and he means to drive you away from Oldborough. Most men wouldhave forbidden you the house and commanded the lady to have no more todo with you. But that is not Flower's method. What you have to do isto fight him. If you had this money, do you think you could manage to doit? I mean, is this the only big debt you have?"
"The other matters are pinpricks," Wilfrid said. "If I could get thissum I dare say I could pull through. But the time is short, and Ihaven't a single friend in the world worth a sixpence."
"It might be managed," Vardon said cautiously. "I don't say it will,mind you. There is just a chance. I have got a client in Castlebridgewho does a bit in this way, and possibly he may take up your security.You will find him rather expensive, but he is honest, and as long as hesees you are making a genuine attempt to pay him off, will not worryyou. As I told you just now, I am going into Castlebridge by the 9.15train, and you had better come with me and see my client for yourself.I shall probably get my business finished by a quarter past ten, andthen we will go round and call on the old gentleman."
"I cannot say how much I am obliged to you," Wilfrid said gratefully."I shall only be too pleased to go with you. I will have no peace tillthis matter is settled."
It was a little after half-past nine when Wilfrid and his companionreached Castlebridge, and made their way through the crowded streetstowards the wooden structure which had been erected by the ImperialCircus Company for their winter season.
"We will go in and watch the performance for half an hour," Vardonsuggested. "By that time I believe my client will be disengaged. Idon't care much for this class of entertainment, but it is better thanloafing about in the cold streets. I'll leave a message at the boxoffice to say in what part of the house I am to be found when my man isready for me."
The performance was typical of its kind. The packed audience followedthe various items with rapt attention. There were the usual ladies inspangles and short skirts, riding barebacked and jumping through paperhoops; the gorgeous ring-master and the inevitable clowns; the flare oflamps and the pungent smell of sawdust. To Wilfrid the whole thing was
slow and monotonous to the last degree, and he was glad when one of theattendants whispered something in Vardon's ear.
"Come along," the latter said. "I see you want to get out of this. Myman is waiting in the office at the back of the stables."
They soon reached the office, where three individuals were lounging, twoof whom went out directly Mr. Vardon came in. The remaining figure wasa gigantic negro fully six feet six in height, who grinned as Vardoncame forward.
"My client," Vardon whispered. "Wait outside, Mercer."
Wilfrid made no reply. In Vardon's client he recognized the negro hehad seen near Maldon Grange.