The Master of the Ceremonies Part 129

"It was a deliberate insult, gentlemen," said Mellersh quietly.

"Yes, but he doesn't know what he's about," said Sir Matthew. "We all apologise."

Meanwhile the rest had summoned several of the regimental servants to help in getting Rockley from the room; but he resisted till, seeing that his case was hopeless, he suddenly exclaimed:

"Well, then, I'll go, if you'll let me propose one more toast."

"No, no!" was chorused.

"Then I shan't go," cried Rockley; "I'll stop and see it out."

"Let him give a toast," said Sir Harry, "and then he'll go. On your honour, Rockley?"

"On my honour," he said: and he seemed to have grown suddenly sober.

"Fill, gentlemen. The toast is a lady--not Miss Denville, since it offends Colonel Mellersh. I will give you the health of a lady who has long been one of my favourites. Her health even that arch sharper will not refuse to drink--my mistress, Cora Dean."

In rapid succession, and in the midst of a deep silence, the claret in Colonel Mellersh's gla.s.s, and the gla.s.s itself, were dashed in Major Rockley's face.

Rockley uttered a howl of rage that did not seem to be human; and he would have sprung at Mellersh's throat had he not been restrained, while the latter remained perfectly calm.

"There is no need for us to tear ourselves like brute beasts, gentlemen," he said. "Major Rockley shall have the pleasure of shooting the arch sharper--myself--where you will arrange--to-morrow morning; but before I leave I beg to say that Miss Dean is a lady whom I hold in great honour, and any insult to her is an insult to me."

"Loose me, Bray. Let me get at the cowardly trickster and cheat,"

yelled Rockley. "He shall not leave here without my mark upon him. Do you hear? Loose me. He shall not go."

He struggled so furiously that he freed himself and was rus.h.i.+ng at Mellersh, when the door was thrown open and the grey-headed old Colonel of the regiment entered.

"What is this?" said the Colonel sternly. "Major Rockley, are you mad?

I have business, sir, at once, with you."

Rockley stared from one to the other, and seemed to be sobered on the instant.

"Business with me?" he said quickly. "Well, what is it? Payne, I leave myself in your hands. Now, Colonel, what is it?"

The old Colonel drew aside and pointed to the door.

"Go to my quarters, sir," he said sternly. "But you should have some one with you beside me. Sir Harry Payne, you are Major Rockley's greatest intimate. Go with him."

Sir Harry was, after Mellersh, the most sober of the party, his wound having necessitated his being abstemious, and he turned to the Colonel.

"He was very drunk," he said. "We'll get him to bed. I'll talk to Mellersh when he is gone, and nothing shall come of it."

"You have misunderstood my meaning, Payne," said the Colonel sternly.

"I am not interfering about a card quarrel, sir, or a contemptible brawl about some profligate woman. This is an affair dealing with the honour of our regiment, as well as Major Rockley's liberty."

A spasm seemed to have seized Rockley, but he was calm the next moment, and walked steadily to the Colonel's quarters, not a word being spoken till the old officer threw open the door of his study, and they were in the presence of Lord Carboro', Barclay, Morton Denville, and the Chief Constable.

The Colonel was the only one who took a chair, the others bowing in answer to the invitation to be seated, and remaining standing.

"Now, Mr Denville," said the Colonel, "Major Rockley is here: will you have the goodness to repeat the words that you said to me? I must warn you, though, once more, that this is a terrible charge against your brother-officer, and against our regiment. I should advise you to be careful, and unless you have undoubted proof of what you say, to hesitate before you repeat the charge."

"Sir," said Morton, standing forward, "I am fighting the battle of my poor father, who has been condemned to death for a crime of which he is innocent."

"He has been tried by the laws of his country, Mr Denville, and convicted."

"Because everything seemed so black against him, sir, through the devilish machinations of that man."

"Be careful, sir," said the Colonel sternly. "Once more, be careful."

"I must speak out, sir," cried Morton firmly. "I repeat it--the devilish machinations of this man--who has been the enemy and persecutor of my family ever since he has been here."

"To the point, sir," said the Colonel, as Rockley stood up with a contemptuous look in his dark eyes, and his tall, well-built figure drawn to his full height.

"I will to the point, sir," said Morton. "I charge this man, the insulter and defamer of my sister, with being the murderer of Lady Teigne!"

"Hah!"

It was Major Rockley who uttered that e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n: and, springing forward, he had in an instant seized Morton Denville by the throat and borne him against the wall.

It was a momentary burst of fierce rage that was over directly; and, dropping his hands and stepping back, the Major stood listening as Morton went on.

"Taking advantage of the similarity of figure between himself and my unfortunate brother, he took Frederick Denville's uniform one night for a disguise, and to cast the suspicion upon an innocent man, should he be seen, and then went to the house and killed that miserable old woman as she slept."

"You hear this charge, Rockley?" said the Colonel.

"Yes, I hear," was the scornful reply.

"Go on, Mr Denville: I am bound to hear you," said the Colonel. "What reason do you give for this impossible act?"

"Poverty, sir. Losses at the gaming tables. To gain possession of Lady Teigne's jewels."

"Pis.h.!.+" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Rockley, with his dark eyes flas.h.i.+ng.

"Those jewels proved to be false," continued Morton, "and at the first opportunity Major Rockley took them, in the dead of the night, and threw them from the end of the pier into the sea."

"How do you know that?" said the Colonel.

"I was on the platform beneath, fis.h.i.+ng, sir; and the fisherman I was with dredged them up afterwards, and sold them to Mr Barclay."

"Yes," said that individual. "I have them still."

"Bah! Absurd!" cried Rockley, throwing back his head. "Colonel Lascelles, are you going to believe this folly?"

"I am powerless, Major Rockley," said the Colonel in a quick, sharp manner. "This charge is made in due form."

"And it is enough for me, sir," said the constable, stepping forward.

"Major Rockley, I arrest you on the charge of murder."