A Little World Part 35

"That will do, Mr Stiff," said Harry, quietly.

"But if I might make so bold as to say, sir--"

"That will do for the present Mr Stiff," said Harry again; and the landlord wore quite an aggrieved aspect as he turned to leave the room.

"Do you think, then, that you have a clue?" exclaimed Sir Richard, eagerly, as soon as they were alone.

"I do not know--I hope so--I fear so," said Harry, thoughtfully. "But stay a while--tell me first what steps you have taken."

Sir Richard looked disappointed, but he went on speaking.

"I directly placed myself in communication with the police, but so far they have done nothing. But I am upon thorns--what do you know?"

"Nothing for certain, Sir Richard; but let me try alone--let me see what I can do," said Harry, thoughtfully; for he was trying to arrange his plan of action, as he sought to pierce the cloud that seemed to be ahead. He knew but too well, from old a.s.sociations, the character of the region which he now felt, from his own reasoning, Lionel had been in the habit of visiting, and with this thought came a sense of misery that crushed him.

He called up from the past a soft gentle face, and rage and jealousy seemed for a while to make him half mad, till they pa.s.sed away to make room for a feeling of pity, as he muttered two words, "Flight--France!"

and then wiped the cold dew of perspiration from his forehead.

In a few minutes, though, he was once more himself, and sternly devoted to the object in view.

"Yes," he said, after a pause, during which Sir Richard had watched him as if life depended upon his words, "let me go first;" for he thought to spare the old man pain, and prevent more than one angry scene, if that which he surmised should prove to be true.

Sir Richard seemed too much prostrated with that which he had gone through during the past days to offer resistance to his plans, and, besides, he had great faith in the young man's foresight and discernment. So, yielding at once, he consented to stay, while, with throbbing temples, Harry Clayton turned from the house and made his way through the labyrinth of streets which led to Decadia.

Volume 2, Chapter XVII.

IN QUEST.

Harry Clayton's brain was very busy, for he was able to evoke from his imagination much of that which had in reality occurred. He did not give Lionel the credit of being worse than most young men of his age, but he could easily surmise that he would be sure to repeat his visits to Brownjohn Street, and now it was that he cursed his own weakness, and blamed himself as the cause of all that had happened.

"Had I acted like a man," he groaned, "I might have saved her."

Had he not had proofs from the landlord that a regular correspondence had been kept up with the shop in Decadia, and, as he argued, Patty would doubtless be often there, and feel flattered by the attentions of a baronet's son. The purchases must have been made at D. Wragg's shop, and Patty had been used as a decoy-bird.

The character of the people seemed to increase in iniquity, as he thought upon all the surroundings. Then he thought he would go to Duplex Street first, but he cast the idea aside.

"They are honest people, and doubtless I should find them broken-hearted," he mused.

It was all plain enough--thought only strengthened the conviction--the Brownjohn Street shop had been used as a trap, and Patty the bait. The prophecy uttered had come true--Lionel had gone there once too often.

But what had been the result? Had he gone away--not alone?--or was there some dark deed here to be brought to light?

His thoughts changed the next moment, and, as he hurried along, he told himself that he was, after all, perhaps only exaggerating; that this was the nineteenth century, and that now-a-days people were not inveigled and entrapped; that robbery was certainly common, and often accompanied with violence; but that murder was rare, and, when committed, was for the sake of greater gain than could be obtained from a young man going to keep an a.s.signation.

Harry winced as that last word occurred to him, and he strode on swiftly, as if moved by profound agitation. Then once more he slackened speed a little, his thoughts reverting to Jared and his wife. No; they would never encourage anything of the kind, he was sure. Whatever meetings had been held, must have been without their knowledge; and he had been fool enough to clear the way at the first rebuff! Or was he ashamed of the a.s.sociations?--which was it?

Harry groaned as he strode on, and now began to try and cast aside his fears for Lionel's safety, telling himself once more that his imagination was clothing the affair with a tinge of romance which it did not merit.

Brownjohn Street was as of old when he last visited the region.

Idleness was rife; and, as if waiting for work to fall into their hands, or, more likely, not waiting for it at all, there were stout, st.u.r.dy, soft-palmed young fellows loitering about by the score. Some were talking, others chewing straws, and again others engaged in gambling with halfpence on secluded portions of the pavement.

One and all had a sidelong glance for the well-dressed stranger pa.s.sing along, and many a nod and wink was given as heads were turned, more than one of which attracted the notice of Harry; and he shudderingly wondered what would be the consequences if he were to come here frequently-- perhaps by night--to visit some particular house, lolling insolently and carelessly along, as he had seen Lionel do, with a contemptuous defiant look in reply to every scowl?

Harry shuddered again as he wondered, and then he hastened his steps involuntarily till he reached the abode of Mr D. Wragg.

Without pause, he walked boldly in, to find all apparently as when he had seen the place last--birds, animals, all were there; but there was no dove-scene, and in place of the soft lineaments of Patty he encountered the swarthy face and harsh look of Janet, who was working behind the counter, her wiry little fingers rapidly continuing the work, although her eyes were fixed eagerly upon the new-comer.

It seemed to Harry that the girl gazed angrily at him from beneath her dark brows, and set her teeth firmly together as she unflinchingly met her visitor's gaze.

A dull heavy feeling of misery now seemed to press harder than ever upon the young man's heart, as his fears in one respect seemed to meet with confirmation. The next moment, sternly and angrily, he approached Janet, holding her as it were with his eye, and, leaning over the counter, he said in a low voice--

"I want his address!"

Janet did not speak, but stared at him wonderingly for a few moments, and then, in a puzzled way, repeated his words--

"You want his address--you want his address!"

"Yes," said Harry, hastily, "I want his address;" and as he looked he could see that, in spite of the bold way in which his eye was met, Janet was trembling.

Harry waited for an answer, but the only words that came were--"You want his address!"

"Yes!" exclaimed Harry, sternly. "Where is he--where has he gone? You need not be afraid."

"Afraid!--afraid of what?" said Janet, harshly.

"There--there! let us have none of this fencing," cried Harry, angrily--"afraid to tell me. Where is he? Has he taken her abroad?

Look here! I do not want to go to her home, for they must be in trouble."

Janet burst into a mocking laugh; but Harry went on without heeding it--

"He has a father, and the old man is in despair. He fears that mischief has befallen him. We know that he is young and foolish, and that he has been here often to meet her."

"I do not understand you--what do you mean?" said Janet, coldly, though it was evident that she was greatly moved.

Harry saw it, and never for a moment relaxing his gaze, went on--

"If they have gone away together, at least let me know for certain that he is safe--that we may expect to hear from him again soon; and I will not press you further than for information that will prove to me the truth. I speak plainly, for this is a most painful case."

Harry paused, astonished at the change which had come over Janet, who, as the meaning of his words dawned upon her to their full extent, started back, and with one hand tore hastily at her throat, as if to check the strangling sensation that would arise. Then as she leaned towards him, as if fascinated by his eye, she gasped forth--

"Do you mean--do you mean?" she cried, hoa.r.s.ely repeating her words, as her face a.s.sumed a livid aspect.

"Yes, yes; you know whom I mean--Mr Redgrave--"

"Mr Redgrave!" she said, hastily.

"Yes!" exclaimed Harry, "that gentleman who came here with me. He disappeared a week since. Tell me where they have gone, and you shall be rewarded."