The Mynns' Mystery

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

  SAUL'S INVITATION.

  Mr Hampton was quite right; Gertrude had nerved herself to thesacrifice, and looked forward to the wedding-day, although withapprehension, still with something akin to eagerness.

  "But you don't love him, my dear," said Mrs Hampton, "and is it rightfor you to go to the altar like that?"

  Gertrude was silent and thoughtful for some minutes before she raisedher large clear eyes, and gazed full in the old lady's face.

  "Yes," she said, "I think it is right. I shall have influence over himwhich will grow, and I shall then have the right to speak withauthority--as his wife."

  Mrs Hampton sighed and shook her head.

  "You have no faith," said Gertrude, smiling, "I have. The real natureof which my dear guardian spoke is only hidden away, crusted over by therough life George has led. Once we are married, he will think of hisduties toward me, and he will change back to what he was."

  "Well, I hope so, my dear, for your sake, and you must forgive mebecause I am not so sanguine as I was at your age. I tell you what Iwould do first, though, if I were you."

  "Yes?"

  "Get rid of Saul Harrington."

  "Yes, I should be glad to do that, and I shall try it," said Gertrude,with a dreamy look in her eyes which changed to one of dislike and dreadas a step was heard outside upon the gravel walk, and the two womenlooked at each other curiously.

  "Talk of some one--" said Mrs Hampton at last.

  At that moment the door was opened, and Saul Harrington ushered in.

  "Ah, ladies," he said cheerily, "both indoors upon a day like this.Well, I'm glad to find you at home. Come to say good-bye."

  "Good-bye?" said Gertrude.

  "Yes. I am going to the Continent for a month, and I have come down totry and persuade George to go with me. Do him no end of good. Where ishe?"

  "I think he is in the study," said Gertrude.

  "What do you say to my scheme? Can you spare him for a fortnight?"

  "Spare who for a fortnight?" said the object of their debate, entering.

  "You, old fellow. I'm going to Paris, and then on to Switzerland, andback by the Rhine and Amsterdam. Come with me."

  "What, and do all the paying?"

  Saul flushed up, snatched his pocket-book from his breast and tore itopen.

  "Well, I shan't ask you to pay for my circular ticket anyhow," he said,taking out a tiny book; "and here are my hotel coupons. Hang it all!how fond you men with coin are of insulting those without."

  "Well, we're cousins," said the other, with a sneering laugh. "Allright, little one; I'll apologise before he goes," he continued, asGertrude looked at him appealingly; and Saul winced as if it was painfulto him to have Gertrude interfere on his behalf.

  "Then you will not come?" said Saul, leaning forward to show Gertrudethe tickets.

  "No, thanks; I'm going to spend my last bachelor fortnight here."

  "Just as you like. Better have spent it with me. I'm sure Gertie doesnot want you with all her dresses to see to--what do you call it, MrsHampton--a _trousseau_?"

  "I believe so, Mr Saul," said the old lady dryly; "but when I wasmarried, I had to do without."

  "You will not come, then," said Saul, at last, rising.

  "No, thanks; but you'll stop to dinner."

  "No; too many little preparations to make; letters to write, and thatsort of thing. If I stay, will you alter your mind?"

  "No, no. In me behold a converted reprobate. I'm in training for amarried man."

  "Oh, very well, then; I must be off. I'll write to you from Paris andlet you know how I'm getting on, and where I stay in case you would liketo join me."

  "No fear."

  "You may alter your mind, my lad. Good-bye, Gertie. Be an obedientgirl. Good-bye, Mrs Hampton. Hang it all, George! you might ask afellow to have a drink."

  "Oh, of course. Beg pardon. I'm such a teetotaller now, that I forgetother people's wants. Eh, Gertie?"

  "I am sure you have been much better lately."

  "Oh, certainly! I shall not dispute it. Come along, Saul; you arecase-hardened."

  He led the way to the study, and opened the closet where he keptspirit-stand and a syphon. These and glasses he placed upon the table,while Saul watched him keenly.

  "There, poison yourself, my lad," he said laughingly.

  "Oh, thanks! Pleasant way of poisoning oneself though. You'll have adrop?"

  "I? No. I'll stick to my faith now, for Gertie's sake."

  "Just as you like," said Saul, pouring out a portion of whiskey, andholding the glass beneath the syphon tap, to press the handle and send abubbling stream of mineral water into the spirit.

  "Your health, old fellow!" cried Saul.

  "Thanks."

  Then there was a long draught, and, as he drank, Saul stood with hisright hand in his pocket.

  "Splendid drink. Hah! Feel all the better for it. I say, you mightgive me a cigar."

  "To be sure."

  Saul watched his host as he turned toward the cabinet, and quick asthought his hand was drawn from his pocket, and what seemed to be a tinywhite lozenge was dropped into the whiskey decanter.

  "Ah, that looks a good weed," said Saul, taking the cigar offered tohim.

  "Have any more whiskey?"

  "Thanks, no," said Saul; and he proceeded to cut off the end of thecigar, while his companion took up and replaced the decanter stopper.

  "Smell gets into my nose," he said. "Tempts one."

  Saul laughed, lit his cigar, shook hands very warmly, as he raised hiseyes from the decanter, after seeing that the lozenge had melted. Thenlooking his companion full in the eyes, he bade him "good-bye" and wasgone.

  The party at dinner that night was quiet and pleasant, for the host wasin his best form. Doctor Lawrence came down and exchanged glances withHampton consequent upon the alteration they perceived; and when at lastthe ladies left the table there was very little drinking, the hostturning from the table as if in disgust.

  "A good sign, Hampton," Doctor Lawrence whispered, as he took his leaveabout ten. "Patience, and all may be right yet."

  "Doubt it," muttered the lawyer, as he returned to the drawing-room, tostand chattering till the ladies said "good-night" to him, and Gertrudecrossed to where her betrothed stood with his back to the fireplace.

  "Going?" he said. "Good-night, little woman--good-night."

  He bent down smiling and kissed her, and this time she did not dashupstairs to her bedroom to bathe her cheek, but walked up slowly andthoughtfully, oppressed as it were by a strange sadness which made herlook hurriedly round as if in search of some trouble or danger hoveringnear, and in place of sobbing wildly with horror and disgust, she sankupon her knees at her bedside to pray that strength might be given herto carry out her desires, and in that attitude she unwittingly droppedasleep.