The Wicked Marquis

by E. Phillips Oppenheim

  CHAPTER XXIV

  The Marquis, with an after-breakfast cigarette in his mouth, strolledout of his front door, a few mornings later, to find himself face toface with Richard Vont. He called Letitia, who was behind.

  "The worst has happened," he groaned.

  Letitia stood by her father's side and looked across the stone flags,across the avenue, with its central bed of gay-coloured flowers, thering fence, the moat, the few yards of park, to where, just inside hislittle enclosed garden, Richard Vont was seated, directly facing them.

  "Well, you expected it, didn't you, father?" she observed.

  "All the same," the Marquis declared, with a frown, "it's an irritatingthing to have a man seated there within a hundred yards of your frontdoor, with a Bible on his knee, cursing you. I am convinced now, morethan ever, that my case against this man must have been grosslymismanaged. The law could never permit such an indignity."

  Letitia stepped back for a moment to light a cigarette. Then sherejoined her father and contemplated that somewhat grim figurecritically.

  "If he is going to do that all the time," the Marquis went on, "I shallhave nerves. I shall have to live in the back part of the house."

  Letitia gravely considered the matter.

  "Why don't you try talking common sense to him?" she suggested."Perhaps a few words from you would make all the difference."

  "He is probably sitting there with a gun," her father sighed."However, it's an idea, Letitia. I'll try it."

  He strolled across the avenue, through a little iron gate in therailings, and across the moat by a footbridge. When he had approachedwithin a dozen paces of the palings, however, Richard Vont rose to hisfeet.

  "You're nigh enough, Lord Mandeleys," he called out, "nigh enough foryour own safety."

  The Marquis advanced with his usual leisurely and aristocratic walk tothe edge of the palings. Richard Vont stood glaring at him like a wildbeast, but there was no signs of any weapon about.

  "Vont," the former said, "we both have rights. This park is mine sofar as your paling, just as your garden is yours where you are. I haveno fancy for shouting, and I have a word to say to you."

  "Say it and begone, then," Vont exclaimed fiercely.

  "Really," the Marquis expostulated, "you are behaving in a mostunreasonable manner. I am here to discuss the past. For any wrongwhich you may consider I have done you, I express my regret. I suggestto you that your daughter's present position in life should reconcileyou to what has happened."

  "My daughter's brains nor your money don't make an honest woman of her."

  The Marquis sighed wearily.

  "Your outlook, Vont," he said, "is full of prejudice and utterlyillogical. I found qualities in your daughter which endeared her tome, and she has lived a perfectly reputable and engrossing life eversince she left your home, such a life as she could not possibly havelived under your roof or in this part of the world. In every way thatcounts, she has prospered. Therefore, I ask you to reconsider thematter. I claim that any wrong I may have done you is expiated, and Isuggest that you abandon an attitude which--pardon me--is just a littletheatrical, put aside that very excellent Book or else read it as awhole, and give me your hand."

  "I'd cut it off first," Vont declared savagely.

  "This is rank prejudice," the Marquis protested.

  "It seems so to you, belike," was the scornful answer. "You cleverfolk who can crowd your brain with thoughts and ideas frombooks--you've no room there for the big things. You've so many littleweeds growing up around that the flower doesn't count. Nought that youcan say about Marcia can alter matters. I'd sooner have seen hermarried to the poorest creature on your land than to know that she haslived as your dependent for all these years."

  The Marquis shook his head sorrowfully.

  "You're an obstinate old man, Vont," he said, "and a very selfish one.You are wrapped up in your own narrow ideas, and you won't even allowany one else to show you the truth. Marcia has been happy with me.She would have been the most miserable creature on earth married to aclod."

  "Ay, she's been here to show herself," Vont muttered, "down in amotor-car, in furs and silks, like a creature from some world that Iknow not about. She's talked as you've talked. I've listened to thepair of you. I thrust my daughter out of the garden and bade her goaway and learn the truth. And you--well, I just take leave to say thatas I cursed you nigh on a score of years ago, and have cursed you in myheart ever since, so I curse you now!"

  "But are you going to sit there every day doing it?" the Marquisenquired, a little irritably.

  "This house and garden are mine," Richard Vont replied stolidly,"although you've done your best to beggar me by taking them away. WhenI choose, I shall sit here. When I choose, I shall sit and watch youwith your guests, watch you morning, noon and night. I've one wish inmy heart, hour by hour. Maybe that wish will reach home, Marquis ofMandeleys. If it does, you'll see them all in black along thechurchyard path there, and hear the doors of your vault roll open."

  "You're a little mixed in your similes, my friend," the Marquisremarked, "because, you know, if those things happen--to me, I shall bethe one person who doesn't hear them. Still, I gather that you areimplacable, and that is what I came to find out. What astonishinglyfine hollyhocks!" he observed, as he turned away. "I must go and lookat my own."

  For a moment there was tragedy in Vont's clenched fists and fierce,convulsive movement forward. The Marquis, however, without a backwardglance, lounged carelessly away and, finding Letitia, strolled with herto the walled garden.

  "The man is impossible," he proclaimed. "It is obviously his intentionto sit there and make himself a nuisance. Well, we get used toeverything. I may get used to Richard Vont."

  Letitia hesitated for a few moments.

  "Father," she said, "there are certain subjects which are not, as arule, mentioned, but if you will permit me--"

  The Marquis stopped her.

  "My dear, please not," he begged, a little stiffly. "Remember, if youwill, that I have little in common with the somewhat modern school ofthought indulged in by most of your friends. There are certainsubjects which cannot be discussed between us. Let us hear what Mr.Hales has to say."

  Hat in hand, the head gardener had hastened down to meet them, andunder his tutelage they explored his domain. His master murmuredlittle words of congratulation.

  "I have done my best, your lordship," the man observed, "but Mr.Merridrew has been cruel hard on me for bulbs and seeds and plants, andas to shrubs and young trees, he'll not have a word to say."

  The Marquis nodded sympathetically.

  "We may be able to alter that next year, Hales," he promised. "Mr.Merridrew, I know, has had great trouble with the tenants for the lastfew quarters. Next year, Mr. Hales, we will see what we can do."

  The gardener once more doffed his cap and received the intelligencewith gratified interest. Over the top of the hill, a small governess'cart, drawn by a fat pony, came into sight, and Letitia waved her handto the girl who was driving.

  "It's Sylvia Laycey," she murmured. "Now how on earth can that childstill be at Broomleys, if Mr. Thain is really here?"

  Sylvia explained the matter as she drove into the great stableyard,Letitia walking on one side of her and the Marquis on the other.

  "Of course we've left Broomleys," she told them, "but we are stayingwith the Medlingcourts for three or four days. They asked us at thelast moment. And then your letter came, Letitia--just in time. I'msimply crazy to come and stay with you. Letitia, you lucky girl! Youare going to be here all the time! I am simply foolish about him!"

  "About whom?" Letitia asked indifferently.

  "Why, Mr. David Thain, of course! He's the nicest thing I've evertalked to. He lunched with us on Thursday--but of course you're inlove with him, too, so there'll be no chance for me."

  Letitia's laugh was half amused, half scornful.

  "If you are in earnest, Sylvia," she said, "w
hich doesn't seem verylikely, I can assure you that you need fear no rival. Mr. Thain doesnot appeal to me."

  "We have nevertheless found Mr. Thain," the Marquis observed, suddenlyreminding them both of his presence, "a very agreeable and interestingacquaintance."

  Sylvia made a little grimace. She thrust her arm through Letitia's anddrew her off towards the lawn, where some chairs had been brought outunder a cedar tree.

  "You are such a wonderful person, Letitia," she said, "and of courseyour father's a Marquis and mine isn't. But I thought, nowadays,Americans were good enough for anybody in the world, if only they hadenough money."

  "Both my father and I, you see," Letitia observed, "are a littleold-fashioned. I have never had any idea of marriage, except with someone whose family I knew all about."

  "Of course," Sylvia declared, "I am a horrid Radical, and I think I'dsooner not know about mine. If Mr. Thain's antecedents wereunmentionable, I should adore him just the same, but, as I know yourfather would remind me in some very delicate fashion if he were here,the situation is different. You don't mind talking about him, do you,Letitia, because that's what I've come for?"

  "Well, I'll listen," Letitia promised, as she settled herself in aneasy-chair. "I really don't know what I should find to say, exceptthat he's moderately good-looking, has quite nice manners, and moneyenough to buy the whole county."

  "You are fearfully severe," Sylvia sighed. "Of course, I've beentalking rot, as I always do, but we did find him charming, Letitia,both Daddy and I. He was so simple and unaffected, and he drove meinto Fakenham and bought cutlets for our luncheon. When I come tothink of it," she went on, with a look of horror in her face, "Ibelieve he paid for them, too."

  "He can well afford to," Letitia laughed.

  The Marquis came to them across the lawn. He held in his hand an opentelegram.

  "From Grantham, my dear," he said to Letitia. "It appears that he isbored with town and proposes to come down to-morrow night instead ofwaiting until Saturday. I have replied that he will be very welcome.Mrs. Foulds will really have to bestir herself. I have a line fromCaroline, too, to ask if she may stay for a couple of days on her wayto Harrogate."

  Letitia rose to her feet. The cloud which had fallen upon her face wasdoubtless owing to housekeeping cares. The Marquis, shading his eyeswith his hand, was gazing across the park.

  "Really," he remarked, a little drily, "I shall have to hint to our newneighbour that turf which is several hundred years old is not meant tobe cut up like prairie-land. He sits his horse well, though."

  Sylvia jumped quickly up and Letitia gazed in the direction which herfather had indicated. David, on his black horse, was riding across thepark towards Broomleys.