by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER XXXII
WHO HAS TAKEN THE KEY?
Punctual to the hour, and in a suitable evening dress, Rupert Colchesterappeared at the Achesons' house. Mrs. Acheson received him with herusual kindness. She was alone in the room when the young man happened toput in an appearance.
"Do you know," she said, "that I am quite glad to have an opportunity ofseeing you by yourself. I am not at all happy about your sister."
"Indeed," replied Rupert, putting on a sympathetic and very interestedair. "Be sure of this, that anything you may happen to say to me aboutAnnie will have my most tender consideration and my deepest interest.Annie and I are practically alone in the world. What is wrong with thedear girl?"
"She is very far from well; that I can see," replied Mrs. Acheson. "Sheis also very much depressed, unnaturally so; and do you know, Mr.Colchester, that she did not know anything about your appointment in theCivil Service. She was amazed when I told her you were going to India."
"Ah!" said Rupert, thoughtfully tapping the back of his heel against thebrass rail of the fireplace, "I felt sure she would feel it dreadfully.The fact is, up to the present I have not dared to break the news toher, she is so intensely affectionate. Of course I intended to do soto-night. Now that you have done so, it is a great relief to me. Shewill not feel it so dreadfully after a little; and I know I can buoy herup with hope, for my intention is that she shall join me in a year ortwo. She shall be my housekeeper until she enters a good home of herown. I could not think of marrying until my dear Annie had a home of herown."
"I felt certain that you had a good motive in keeping the important newsback from her," replied innocent Mrs. Acheson; "and I respect you allthe more for your consideration."
Just at that instant Belle and Annie entered the room. Belle wore herbest dress. It was not much to look at; but something very great anduncommon must have induced her to put it on. It was made of soft blacksilk, and had ruffles of lace round the neck and wrists. She wore also avery narrow gold chain round her neck. When Rupert spoke to her, Bellefound herself blushing.
Dinner was announced. Mrs. Acheson asked him to take her daughter down,and she herself conducted Annie to the dining-room. Annie had made noattempt to improve her appearance; she sat, feeling shy anduncomfortable, scarcely opening her lips, while Rupert carried theconversation his own way. He was a clever man, and he contrived on thepresent occasion to make himself quite brilliant. He talked about India,spoke of the liner in which he was going out; turned aside to Annie tosay, "I will explain everything to you, my dear, presently"; told goodstories about his early life in America, and then about his education inLondon; and managed to delight both Mrs. Acheson and Belle by the peephe gave them into a world which they had never entered. His manners toBelle were all that could be desired. He was extremely courteous anddeferential and managed to convey a touch of admiration which was neverunduly obtrusive. Such a strong effect did he have upon her that sheforgot her beloved classics as she listened to him.
The meal came to an end, and when the ladies rose Rupert accompaniedthem to the drawing-room.
"No wine for me, thanks," he said. "I am practically a teetotaler." Hethen drew a chair near Belle's side, and contrived to draw her into aliterary conversation of deep interest.
Annie felt on thorns as she watched the two. More firmly each moment wasshe making up her mind. If Rupert dared to ask Belle to lend him any ofthe money in the wooden box she would confess all. She felt herself ahypocrite, and could scarcely stand Mrs. Acheson's kind and affectionateremarks.
At last the slow evening came to an end. By this time Rupert hadperambulated almost every foot of the drawing-room. He had stood closeto the box--once his hand had touched it. It was when he was looking atBelle's precious Greek Testament which lay on top of it. Rupert quoted afew sentences out of the Testament in his melodious voice to Belle, whonodded and praised his accent. He then went and stood in the deepembrasure of the window, looked out at the moon, which threw itsradiance over the garden outside, and all of a sudden, without the leastwarning, began to talk of burglars.
"This is a very nice house," he said; "but with that garden at the backit is not too safe; and you have no men on the premises, have you?"
"No," said Belle; "but I don't understand what you mean."
"Well, I have the greatest dread of burglars breaking into a houseinhabited only by women."
"Oh, we are not at all afraid," replied Belle. "Who would burgle here?We have no special valuables; a very little silver, no more. Besides,the windows are all thoroughly secured."
She showed the device of the latch to Rupert, who said it was clever,very ingenious indeed. A moment or two afterwards he took his leave. Ashe did so, he nodded to Annie.
"See you to-morrow, little sis," he said. "Cheer up about India, oldgirl; you shall come and join me by and by.--Good-by, Mrs. Acheson; Icannot tell you how I have enjoyed my evening."
To Belle he did not say a word about his special enjoyment; but he gaveher a look full of eloquence. She found herself blushing, and her heartbeat a trifle quicker than its wont.
When the hall-door closed behind him, both ladies were eloquent in hispraise.
"A charming fellow, and what a nice expression!" said Mrs. Acheson.
"He is a clever, which is better than being a charming, man," saidBelle; "he has a great and sincere respect for all learning. In his wayhe is an enthusiast. I do not care for conversation with men as a rule;but I must own that I respect Mr. Colchester, and enjoy talking to him.He is so sincere and so straightforward."
"May I go to bed?" said Annie suddenly. "I have a bad headache, andshould like to lie down."
"Oh, poor child," said Mrs. Acheson, "I do hope you are not sickeningfor anything, dear. You have looked so ill since you have been with us.Will you have some sal-volatile or eau-de-Cologne? What do you take whenyou have bad headaches?"
"Nothing," answered Annie. "I lie down and try to sleep."
She hurried from the room, scarcely waiting to bid either ladygood-night. Mrs. Acheson and Belle sat up a little longer, then theyalso retired for the night.
Annie had lain down on her bed without undressing. It is true she pulledthe counterpane over her in case Mrs. Acheson or Belle should come intothe room; but sleep was far from her wakeful eyes.
By and by the house grew quiet. She heard the servants going up to theirattics overhead; she heard Mrs. Acheson shut herself into her own room,and Belle shut herself into hers. Belle slept with her door locked, andAnnie heard the key being turned. A few moments later profound silencefell upon the house; the lights were all out. One by one the inhabitantsslept, all but Annie, who lay with every nerve tingling and her sense ofwaiting preternaturally acute.
While Rupert had been in the house she had followed all his movementswith a terrible knowledge of him and his ways which gave her the clew tomuch that he was doing. When he laid his hand on the wooden box, Anniefelt as if a burning-red hand had touched her own heart. When he stoodby the window she could scarcely contain her uneasiness. When he spokeabout burglars it seemed to her that the whole of what was immediatelyto follow was laid bare to her. Rupert was in desperate straits; hewould stop at nothing to achieve his object. Was it possible that he,the man whom Annie loved, whose father had been good and respectable,whose mother had been one of the gentlest and sweetest of women, wouldstoop as low as this? Alas! Annie feared it. Now was her time foraction. She slipped softly out of bed, unfastened her door withoutmaking any noise, and glided down through the silent house. Mrs. andMiss Acheson were both sound sleepers; the servants were far away. Shereached the ground floor, turned the handle of the drawing-room door,found the door locked from the outside. Taking great care, she unlockedit, still without making any sound. Then, in her stockinged feet shecrossed the room and took her place in shadow close to the window whereRupert had stood that evening.
The moon was still up, and its light fell across the room. Thedrawing-room had three large windows with Venetian bli
nds. It looked onto a fair-sized garden; the windows were not more than three feet fromthe ground. Annie now observed with increased apprehension that theblind to this window was up. She instantly remembered that it had gotout of order that morning, and heard Mrs. Acheson say that she must sendfor a man to repair it. Rupert must have also noticed that fact as hestood with Belle close to the window.
Annie got still deeper into the shadow of the thick curtains, andwaited. All too soon she heard just what she expected to hear--steps inthe garden outside; the steps approached the window. The bright flood ofmoonlight was broken by a huge shadow; a man was standing on thewindow-sill. Annie did not stir. She heard the grating noise of a smalldiamond against the glass; a square was quickly cut out, a hand and armintruded themselves, and the hasp, the construction of which had beenexplained to Rupert by Belle, was quickly unfastened. The next instantthe window was lifted, and Rupert Colchester stepped into the room. Hewent at once to the table where the wooden box stood, laid his hand onit, and was about to turn back when Annie, making a sudden movement,confronted him, standing in the white light caused by the moon.
"You must put that box back, Rupert," said Annie; "if you don't I shallcall out."
Her sudden and unlooked-for appearance and her brave words staggered theman. He was holding the box in his hand. He dropped it now in hisagitation. Before he could stoop to pick it up, Annie had snatched atit, flown across the room, and put it out into the hall. She then lockedthe drawing-room door, and slipped the key into her pocket.
"Now, Rupert," she said, coming back to him, "the window is open, andyou can go. I know you won't injure me, for, after all, however wickedyou are, I am your own sister, and the only person in all the world wholoves you. You can go, Rupert; you can escape; the way is clear. Butsteal that box you don't; I would rather die than let you."
By this time the astonished and discomfited man had found his voice.
"I have not come here to be betrayed by you," he said. "I am desperate,so you had best leave me alone. Give me the key of the door this minute;if you don't I shall take it by force."
"Rupert, I hear someone stirring overhead: Mrs. Acheson has heard youalready. Oh, go, for Heaven's sake."
"A nice position you'll be in," he said with a sneer.
The noise in the room above was more audible than ever. Someone washeard walking across it.
"You've done for me," he cried. "A nice sister you are! Yes, I suppose Ihad best hook it."
Steps were now heard coming downstairs. Rupert, scowling at Annie, madea rush to the window, put his foot over the ledge and disappeared. Hehad scarcely done so before Mrs. Acheson's voice was heard calling atthe other side of the locked door.
"Is anybody in this room?" she cried. "Who has taken the key? What iswrong?"
Annie thought for a moment; she then walked straight to the door andflung it open.
"How you frightened me," said Mrs. Acheson, coming in. "My dear child,what is the matter? How terrible you look! What is wrong?"
"I have had a fright," replied Annie; "there has been an attempt atburglary." She shook all over. "Don't question me now, for I cannot bearit," she said. "It is safe--he has not taken it. Do you see the squarecut out of that pane of glass? He came in that way; he was just about totake the box when I showed myself."
"The box, child? What box?"
"Belle's wooden box."
"What! that wooden box that Belle keeps full of coins?"
"Yes, the same. I saved it; it is in the hall. I--I feel a little faint."
"Poor child, no wonder! What a terrible scare you have had! Who wouldhave supposed that burglars would come to us? Well, dear, if the box hadbeen stolen, how disappointed they would have been to find only ordinarycoins. But come upstairs, Annie; I must get you some sal-volatile atonce."
Mrs. Acheson dragged Annie upstairs, then went to the servants,awoke them, and sent two of them off immediately to the nearestpolice-station. She questioned Annie still further with regard to theburglary; but could get little or nothing out of her, and concluded thatshe was stunned by the sudden shock. It was not until the widow had goneback to her room that she remembered how very strange it was that Annieshould have locked the drawing-room door, how still stranger it was forAnnie to be in the drawing-room at all. She was not naturallysuspicious: but these circumstances did cause her a little seriousthought.
When the morning dawned she went to her daughter's bedroom.
Belle had heard nothing of the adventures of the previous night, and wasconsiderably annoyed when her mother rattled the handle of the lockeddoor, and asked for admission. Belle opened the door, and then stoodsomewhat crossly waiting for Mrs. Acheson to speak.
"What is the matter?" she asked.
The widow related what had occurred; said that she had found Annie inthe drawing-room with the door locked, and Belle's wooden box of coinsat the other side.
"My coins! my treasures!" said Belle, color and animation rushing intoher face. "How brave of dear Annie: how splendid of her! I know why shedid it; it is unnecessary to explain the matter to you just at present,mother. I can only say that the box was full of valuables, and dear,brave little Annie has rescued them. Oh, she and I must indeed be oneafter this, all during the remainder of our lives. How queer, mother; itwas only last night Mr. Colchester said something about burglars. Heseemed to think we were in danger with the drawing-room window so closeto the ground and looking into the garden; but I explained to him theingenious way in which the windows were fastened, and then he seemed tothink we were absolutely safe. I must go at once now to dear Annie, andthank her."
"I wish you would, Belle; she was very sad last night, poor child. But,my dear, I never knew there were valuables in the box. You only spoke ofcoins."
"Coins of the realm," said Belle with a laugh; "very nearly one hundredpounds, money I have saved from my college expenses for a noble purpose.Don't question me now, mother; I will tell you by and by."
Belle put on her dressing-gown and ran across the landing to Annie'sdoor. She knocked; there was no answer. She turned the handle andentered, Annie's bed was empty--Annie herself had disappeared.
