The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-09-05 00:00:00

OR,
A SECRET FOR YEARS

CHAPTER IX.
THE LAWYER AND THE LETTER.
OR the morning of March 29th a neatly folded packet
greeted the eyes of Mr. Kent as he entered his office
at nine precisely, and mounted the stool in front of
Ilia desk. He placed it on one side, and opened
taste
ad a letter lying not far from it, and bearing the
'34le post-mark—" Redfern Bottom." The epistle ran
thus
btAn KENT,—You know the proverb, "Here to-
Y, floored to-morrow." I am thinking about my
; it is time I made it. Come down as soon as
wnvenient, and draw up the legal disposition of my
oods and chattels, for I mean to break my neck cub-
Lonating this year. Then there is that lease business
. lit Westwood; I want to consult you about it, for I'll
gO to law with the Baroness Something as sure as my
!Lite is Ingestro. The house is in ruins, and the
Veadow land under water. That confounded milldam
'as never been properly looked after, and the eon-
,l3eclnence is the lake in the park is always empty, and
Ve orchard's full. I'll take her drunken tenant by
"te shoulders and turn him out myself, if she don't
lllhfy the lease and let me into possession of my
IWc• Find her out, and tell her what I say. She is
ixnnewhere in Germany, I believe. lam perfectly
4atisfied with the lady you sent me; she is beyond
raiv. You would not know my house again, Kent,
• 'La this short time, even. Only one fault—don't think
Ihe likes yours faithfully,
GEORGE Ross INGESTRE.
" Humph !" ejaculated the lawyer; "the will must
4tand over a bit, -mtil I hear from Dr. Riga what the
'Contents of that packet are likely to prove. In the
tceantime, the Baroness Bernstein may as well have a
'notification of what she is to expect?,
4, IThen this was done, he enclosed the before-men-
`4oned packet in a fresh cover, and added a super-
leription thus, " Dr. Riga, Berners-street, London"
---and the two letters were posted together.

CHAPTER X.
MASTER AND PUPIL.
Li a handsome apartment in a fashionable street in Lon-
tlciri, two gentlemen were sittinc, at breakfast, on the
`kerning and about the time Mr. Kent posted Miss
IVace's journal.
,„The elkr of the two is a dark, singular-looking man.
s head and face are a type of perfect beauty—such
leauty as you see in the half-Indian, half-Moorish
s that Vela squez and Murillo loved to:paint. Still
'ne large, dark eyes have an unsatisfied craving, a
tillvage gleam in their beautiful transparency; and
e full, voluptuous mouth, with its round, firm chin,
sinister curve in its red lines, corresponding to the
Zeeuliar look in the eyes. He wears his black board
Peaked, his jetty hair curled with Indian crispness,
'lcise and short, well off the high narrow temples; and
drooping moustache, small and thin, completes the
,_keness he bears to the Spanish portraits of the six-
Leenth century.
Ills figure is not over middle size, but slender and
"egant in make; his hands are exquisite, his feet
:I?erfect. In fact, Count Philippe de Resimont is one
ef those men so rarely seen—beautiful in every way
Perfectly made and perfectly handsome. His age
tis impossible to guess at—he may be thirty, he may
ue five-and-forty.
companion is a youth of eighteen or twenty,
pth not a shadow of likeness to the other, although
b4,e world knows them as brothers. Ferdinand de
"esimont is slender, delicate, and of a most English
ItYle of beauty. Soft brown curling hair, a fair corn
t•-
exion, and large languid blue eyes; his features are
"e 1.- Saxon in all their lines, saving only the mouth
,t thadchin, and here, strange to say, is a resemblance to
It half-voluptuous, half-mournful beauty of the
Zeerish face of the other. Not the semblance of
but merely the characteristic of race. Ms
i"rements entirely carry out the expressions of his
;!atures. They are languid, listless, and graceful.
41e does not seem to hear his companion's voice, but,
.Z4lng at vacancy, eats and drinks in utter uncon-
leusness of what he is about.
h is not until the count especially solicits his atten-
:24 to something he says, that Ferdinand looks up
'ucl appears to remember he has a companion.
What was that, Philippe? I did not hear!' He
the German tongue in speaking, and the other
ntly replied—
I must have you talk English in London; try and
-,eustorn yourself to its usage."
laC All, well, if you choose ; but I do not like the
age—it is hideous; nevertheless, what you will.
"43' brother. But what did you observe ?"
I inquired the day of the month."
'Of me? lifa, Philippe, you should have known
"etter:,
"True; little account you keep of time or dates."
"Time;" replied the other ; " ah, Time! What a
Zetound and wonderful thing is Time! How it
Tals us along on its restless tide, wresting from us
ures that but yesterday seemed imperishable;
;471,,ting far behind us joys that we weep to leave ;
rling us along to become the sharers of the pains
penalties a looming future is alwaye holding in
!tore. Ah ! Ido not approve of Time. I would that
Could find that old grey man, and seize him by the
nrelock they talk of; then, Philippe, I would hold
'4141 fast, indeed. Time should stand still; perpetual
Prith should give perpetual happiness; the joy of
Iterday should be the joy of to-day—no weeping
',titer the green banks left far behind; all should
levelling, and peace, and happiness. Oh, Time
?Ilk' stand still, and let us draw breath to enjoy it."
.st Let Time stand still for thee; for me, he shall
on. Another hour—ah, Time cannot move
Swiftly! Another hour before the post comes
111.1)

.t,Lrh? younger man lifted his eyebrows with affected
--‘kanshment.
lae" The post! Are you then impatient for letters,
Nvialit Philippe? Alas! I can receive no letter for
10,_ch I would spurn on remorseless Time. Philippe,
bs.4at am I to do with myself to-day?" and he left the
,fast-table to throw himself on a lounge.
N,al'nen_ man he called Philippe did not reply; he was
ing with folded arms and compressed lip up and
'Wu the room. Ferdinand watched him with a lazy,
lo nag smile. Yes, he had an intense admiration and
ve for this dark, sombre-minded brother, and his
ges followed him with undisguised affection as his
Aotleeful figure passed and repassed him in its mono-
rols walk to and fro.
tta r half an hour this continued, and then the elder
Stopped at his brother's side and addressed him
10" Ferdinand Resimont, have I been a good brother
3Ou? Yes, or no."
Philippe, what a question! A thousand times
'130" What have I done for you that you should say
What no other creature on earth would; brought
UP from infancy with tender care and lovingness.
bade me ever to soil my hands with labour, and
ren me to share in your own inheritance. Tended
*me
iv like a moth, fostered me like a father, given me
toet37 indulgence in youth, and now, as my manhood
lelest anxious only that I should taste of every
,e_aeure. A luxurious and idle life have you given
W
t brother. My only regret is--"
"
I:4l:hat I cannot work; work as I see others do for

IQdo not need it, my friend," said the elder man,
smile just curving the lines of his lips. "If
ko" are satisfied with me as your only relative and
lacitc'ector, I ask nothing more. Money you shall never
%el,' Pleasure you shall never want, labour you shall
tor e'r have. Can there be more in this life you wish
Perdinand, thy brother?"
;N°thing, nothing, Philippe," cried the youth, start-
"AC glorious life that to lead) Pleasure,
tar, ess pleasure, therefore endless happiness will be
tt/i3e. I love it, I love it," he continued, rapidly,
he" glided unconsciously into the French tongue as
th:ivent on. It seemed more fluent on his lips than
7,°ther,
thhs.l love pleasure; it is the blossom of life; it is the
.11„ja.a er of youth; it is a glorious, golden, and bright-
taViling I. Pleasure of the heart, pleasure of the
INir, Pleasure of the senses. I will taste of them all,
Nti,4 PPe, and drink till I die. No sadness for me, life
,
"the ue gloriously happy; for I have the means and
4'9611 to enjoy it.
deeeig4leam of enthusiasm lit up his face, and cast a
lipecie'',flll beauty over the hollow selfishness of his
tethau• And yet there might have been extenuation,
tte
,Was
in the approving smile which rewarded it.
!•8 but the pupil of a master.
tly,Plght, Ferdinand, right; and before this day is
tkr"ve hours old, you shall behold some of the plea-
tll43 to be found in this great city. London is the
deeh g heart of the world; here you will find a
ttioV, a grander, a more resistless tide of pleasure
11.111 Paris. There
Ittllo' Was interrupted by the entrance of a footman,
verPlaced several letters on the table in a silver
aeto,,: The man left the room, and then, but not
•tbe 17, Count Philippe moved the table and tossed
tot ebters eagerly over. A small packet he seized and
se (313 en
to pi e4t_jruit at last!" and he sat down with his back
111) totquaand, who closed his eyes, and curled himself
_,joY his blissful dreams of the future.
*- *lout contained Miss Wace's journal.
. . CHAPTER XI.
trz •-• " ON THE SCENT.
awl?"•roonth' after the circumstances related in
„,"' chapter, • Mr.. lient,_ sitting in his room up-
Wgitated long and deeply over an open letter
14134 •
• Nn.k. At last he said to his head clerk, who
'
:41,),--"4nk busily besidetim--- -

t to
_get

, I .9?
e 4 ti.,44P3Wn, will yOu, be good enoug
irectory,
1 '
and look -rne -Q,Uttthe Yorkshire
' 4Ot Verlagbue volume,
-,-.- .... i hihkta,, .'eldilit ttfiiiptlYolieYedo .
..,.4,'`,'•0...1-n,„..,_' Ilia eye rapidly down tb**—
-'1"AIO'-'-'°5»41'1134/ilCire—aip,gPStIre; , 'lir?. .I'---field
• `` -e
4t4."-Atig,v, titift' e1d11044.-
. i .C4.laSill.i =.CiOstOne4o4so 0910;', 442.4„ ... -',' ,tsiviik d
tllagfasZTl
,Nfirton Ingebtref! th is -Sroat,;
~..irenna.
•".oss i''',- Angestre Hall ; Captain. Ingestre Ingram: _
c. v_tigestre, Esq., Rossmore. That's all, sir.'
'tfac:7e, Rossmore is the one. Mr. Ingram was
at the
' oot long Since, I think ?"

t;

"Yes, sir; about that Chancery suit. He expected
a judgment, if you remember; but it was delayed, as
usual." _ _

" I was out, unfortunately. How about his age?
What might that be ?"
"Five or six-and-twenty. In bad circumstances,
I should say. Goths seedy and old-fashioned."
"Did he—did he complain of want of means in any
way ?"
"Not a word, sir. Fearfully proud, I should
fancy."
"Ha ! yes. I don't- think I shall live to see
judgmert given in his case, Mr. Brown; nor he
either."

"No more do I, sir."
" Sorry for it !"
" Yes, sir." And then followed a long silence,
broken only by the rapid scratching of Mr. Brown's
pen.
"Mr. Brown !"
"Yes, sir."
"Seen Mrs. Faunce lately?"
"Not since the 25th of last month, sir."
"Lady Day. Yes, she is punctual to that quarter.
Had any remark to make ?"
"Yes, sir; a communication."
"She always has communications. Well ?"
"Important to the interests of a client."
" !"
"Said she would call again nex.f. day. Has not
been."
" Oh!"

"Always says the same thing."
" Yes to be sure."

Another silence. Mr. Brown set to work with
renewed vigour at his writing. Mr. Kent turned over
papers.
"Perhaps—you .do not know her address, Mr.
Brown ?" _ _ _ _ _ _

" No, don't, sir." The head clerk was getting
irritable.

" I dare say you could find out, though ?"
"I'll try, sir."
" By the day after to-morrow ?"

"Ys, sir !"-with raised voice.
Mr. Kent took the hint, and said no more. But Mr.
Brown was doomed to vexations that morning. One
of the many vehicles rolling past on the noisy cause-
way outside drew up, and a furious pull at the bell
announced a visitor.

"That is Mr. Maxall, no doubt," said Mr. Kent.
"I expect him."
The clerk sniffed, caught up his papers, and
marched out of the room.

"You need not go, Mr. Brown," pleaded the little
old lawyer.
"I have my business to do, sir; and I must do it
without interruption."
"Oh, very well. Mr. Maxall is a great talker."
Just as Mr. Brown shot out, the visitor walked in.
He shook hands with Mr. Kent with an air of great
affability, and then placed a small roll of papers on
the table.
"There, Mr. Kent! Those are the confounded
deeds, or leases, or something, which Mr. Ingestre
must needs make me journey up to London with,
because he is afraid to trust 'em to the post. Precious
valuable, I should fancy."
"Yes, Mr. Maxall. They are important witnesses
in a lawsuit he has corning on."
"What a man it is! always in hot wafer !"
Already Mr. Maxall had found out the small, dingy
looking-glass over Mr. Brown's desk, and was pluming,
himself by its aid—smoothing his very small mous-
tache, arranging his neck-tie, and thrusting his
fingers through his close black curls. And all this
the young gentleman did with a great display of con-
tempt for the lawyer's presence, and adoration of his
own small person. The last look was given to his
diminutive feet, encased in boots of feminine slight-
ness; satisfied with them, he turned his attention to
the lawyer and his little pink finger-nails, and divided
it impartially between the two.
"Mr. Ingestre and family quite well, I hope?"
"Governor is all right. I left his six-footer in bed,
though."
Observing the other gentleman's gentle look ,)f
surprise, Maxall kindly interpreted:
" Ross, you know. He is such a strapper. He
drove over to St. David's a week or two ago, and was
caught in a pelting shower; went to the lecture-
room and sat there three hours in wet clothes; kept
his bed since. The governor don't seem to fret
about his great baby, but Miss Waco is in a deuce
of a way—pets him up finely. I think he is queer."
"Dear me! I hope there is nothing serious, Mr.
Maxall?" The gentleman looked grave.
Maxall eyed him sharply.
"I hope not, Mr. Kent."
"The very worst thing that could befall Mr.
Ingestre is the death of his son. I was only con-
gratulating myself this morning on his being such a
fine, healthy young man. Good gracious! I hope
and trust it is nothing."
"My dear sir, I think you mistake Ingestre. He is '
not the man to let grief kill him : his heart is a trifle
too tough for that."
"My allusion was not made in that sense. No, I
confess I was thinking of his—"
"Well, of his--"
"Property. It wa be the subject of endless litiga-
tion."
" Why. what nn earth can affec± alp, an tail _P—no
flaw there, surely ?"
"But with the prospect of. a fine estate, Mr. Ingram
Ross Ingestre will raise—"
"What has Ingram Ingestre got to do with Red-
fern? He is a Yorkshire fellow !" said the young
man, in a sharp, rude tone.
Mr. Kent's voice wore a mild approval of the in-
solence when he replied, after some meditation—
"Ingram Ross is next in succession. He is the
eldest representative of the eldest branch, and first
cousin to Mr. George."
"Confound the fellow! Isn't my guardian's
daughter to have the succession, in case of her
brother's death ?"
"Certainly not, Mr. Maxall. Miss Ingestre has
only her portion of £15,000 settled on her at her
birth."
"By Jove! what infernal cheatery ! what a rascally
shame! what a—what a--"
The young man could evidently find no words for
his indignation. His olive face grew crimson, and his
eyes glittered cruelly.
But the lawyer smiled placidly.
"Mr. George always considered his son first; ana
when the question of his own legitimacy was raised by
Mr. Ingram's father (which, of course, you do not
remember) the whole proceeds of the Jamaica estate
were secured to his son. That alone, without Redfern
Manor, will be a splendid fortune for Mr. Ross.
But, of course, you are aware of what I am telling
you?"
"Mr. Ingestre never mentions his affairs to me,"
returned Maxall, clearing his throat of a slight huski-
ness. "I never heard that before. There always
seemed some lawsuit on ever since I can remember.
He complains often enough that they have made a
hole in his means."
"Yes, my client has been attacked on all sides, I
must confess. The old squire should have married
before the birth of his eldest son, instead of a few
months beforethat of his youngest. The rest of the
family did not like it, of course, especially the squire's
brother Ingram, of Rossmore ; and his son is the
sorest on that point now, being the true heir ot Red-
fern in his own estimation. Lawsuits have been his
ruin, poor gentleman! and yet I hear from Godson
and Co. that he meditates filing a bill in Chancery
gainst my client, but on a pretence so frivolous, that
Godson refused to take it up. It is lack of means
alone prevents his renewing the old suit of the
Jamaica estate, carrying it into a superior court, and
trying to get another judgment."
"'What suit is that ? "
"Well, Mr. Maxall, about ten years since, the late
Ingram Ingestre (this one's father) disputed the right
of Mr. George to sell the West Indian plantations, as
they were never willed by the father either to him or
his brother Edward. Then the brother died without
a will, and without any other heir than George Ross.
Mr. Ingram maintained that the illegitimate son of
the old squire had no legal right to hold the property
—that it could not revert, to the brother, and must
therefore return to the father's family, and by law of
succession become his. Judge B-- thought otherwise,
and the case went against him."
" so Edward Maxall died without an heir?"

I have always understood so from his brother."

Some people can lie, Mr. Kent."
"Certainly they can, Mr. Maxall."
"And set the brand of illegitimacy on others for
their own purposes, when they don't deserve it--
eh ? "

- -
The lawyer looked in the least bit uneasy, and the
cther gained courage as he perceived it.
"You have heard of such things before now ?"
"Frequently, Mr. Maxall, in novels"
In real life, too, sir."
let nd Maxall leaned across his chair, clenched his
fogers through his curls, and then regarded the
lawyer with a bristling ferocity in every feature of
his small, dark face, very ludicrous to behold.
"I am really at a loss to understand your meaning,
sir," said Mr. Kent, looking with unaffected astonish-
ment at this pose.
"Did you ever happen to see the illegitimate
Edward Maxall, Mr. Kent?"
"Frequently, before he sailed for Jamaica."
"Was he at all like—me?"
"Oh, dear no, not in the least; remarkably hand-
some young fellow—quite English-looking."
Mr. Kent was too much of a gentleman to wound
intentionally the feelings of any one; therefore we
may be certain he was quite unconscious of the acute
pain this last speech inflicted on the vanity of Maxall
Maxall. It cut to him to the heart, it stopped the out-
pourings of his confidence—froze his affability.
Little did the lawyer guess the effect of his unfor-
tunate speech on the small, vain object of it, who, if
he could hate anything he himself owned, hated and
abhorred the swarthy duskiness of his own creole
face. e turned off his great discomfiture with an
affected laugh, and made a wide detour in the subject
of conversation.
lie had to complain of the person Ur. Kent had sent
down as housekeeper ; she was not at all fitted for the
place; no one liked her; she affected the position of a
lady, and asserted her authority in a most improper
way over the whole household, including the master.
At this Mr. Kent looked up, astonished did die-

pleased.
Maxati continued, with a malign twinkle in his
African eves, and great coarseness in his tone—

"I wonder you were not wisei by this time that,
sendalovn a fine-looking woman like that; you know
what tinder he is made of, and how soon he takes fire.
She pretends to be quite ignorant of what every one
else knows, that he is half wild about her. Why, his
conduct the other night at an evening concert is the
talk of all the neighbourhood. Went and sang a
desperate love song right at her. There was no mis-
taking what he meant—ha! ha! My lady got up and
marched out of the room before he could finish, and
my inflammable guardian looked rather foolish—serve
him right!"
"Then the lady does not encourage his atten-
tions? " _

"Yes, she does, in her own icy way. All she wants
is to draw him to a point none of her predecessors
have as yet—marriage."
"Mr. Ingrestre's conduct admits of much extenua-
tion," returned the lawyer; "still, I am very sorry.
I thought her so suitable—such a lady."
"So she is—suitable enough for his requirements, I
should fancy--knows how to freeze him one moment
and melt him the next."
" Hush ! you are speaking of your guardian and
protector, Mr. Maxall."
" True ; and others can speak of him, too, and not
so harmlessly either as I am doing."
"Then it behoves us, sir, to close their mouths if
they open in our hearing."
"At the end of a seven years' silence one is apt to
break loose and speak."
The lawyer and visitor looked at each other; both
with the same intention of learning more from the
eyes than passed the lips.
"I understand you, Mr. Maxall."
"I am paid for silence, Mr. Kent, and I don't
speak."
"Quite right, when speaking would serve no one
to any purpose."
"The one who has been silent longest does not
think so."
" Ho ! then there has been an interview?"
"Certainly there has—l don't deny it."
"I must see Mrs. -Faunce." ,
"You will do no good; her mind is made up.'
"It is absurd—ridiculous—actual madness!"
"What are those lines, Mr. Kent, which run some-
thing like this—' A woman scorned wears hell within
her breast ? ' Hell and madness are synonymous
terms, I fancy, in this case."
"Never heard the quotation. Mr. Ingestre is, of
course, aware of these intentions?"
"Don't know, and don't care," said Maxall, rising.
"You had better consult the black, Domingo, if you
want information; he shares his master's confidence;
I don't."

"Thank you; I prefer going to the fountain-head.
But I apprehend no danger to my client; the evil will
work its own remedy, as it did before; there is
nothing to fear."
A slight pause here. The lawyer was sharpening
his penknife nervously, and Maxall arranged his hat
upon his head, which appeared to be a work of time
and much care. It was completed at last, and while
drawing his primrose-coloured gloves, he exclaimed,
with a sudden burst of indignation—
"It's a shame ! a devilish piece of villany on
Ingestre's part!"
"If you were placed in Mr. Ingestre's position, you
might perhaps _view his conduct in a more lenient
light. As it is, I should have thought, Mr. Maxall,
from being so intimately acquainted with the painful
details of the case, you would have been the last to
decry Mr. Ingestre's behaviour."'
"Yes; I know an ugly phase or two in his life.
Good-day, Mr. Kent. Any message for the
governor?"
"My best regards, and I hope to see him in town
soon."
"Oh ! very well—good day." And he sauntered
out into his cab, and was whirled off.
"I've got a clue," muttered the creole; "I've got a
clue at last. No, no, Mr. George, I'll have it all clear,
yet.'

(To be continued).