The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 45, 4 November 1867, Page 271

The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

5 - A TALE OF ENGLAND",' & . AUSTRALIA. ; ; By It. E. Lee, Author of “A Tangled Skein.” . VraiTTEK FOB. THE HAWKE’S BAY WEEKLY TIMES. The right\ of translation is resented ly~ the, author. CHAPTER 'X.YLlL.—Continued.

Luscombe was greatly astonished.at receiving a visit from Ellen. To tell the truth, Lowe’s hints had taken a certain hold upon his imagination ; and he certainly was very far from expecting to see in his visitor the wife of his quondam friend. “Allow me to apologise for having evidently disturbed you,” said the old gentleman who accompanied Mrs Whitmore, presenting his. card, “my name‘is Haynes, this lady is my client, and we have called in consequence of an unsuccessful application for the purchase of yottr picture.” ' Luscombe’s castles in the air were not only demolished by this intelligence, but he felt annoyed at being discovered in his artistic appropriation of Philip’s portrait; especially ns the character in which he had depicted him was a ludicrous one. He resolved, however, to let the explanation come from the, other side, resolving, if necessary, to make the amende honorable so l'ar as lay in his power, by parting with the picture. He therefore bowed and remained silent.

. “Therefore,” pursued Mr Haynes, “as'Mrs Whitmore informs me that you were formerlyacquainted with her husband, I advised her to accompany me, and give you her reasons for wishing to buy the picture.” “ I am already acquainted with many circumstances connected with Philip’s history,” replied Luscombe,'. “ but while placing the picture unreservedly at Mrs Whitmore’s service, ! must observe that I really did not recognise the resemblance until’ it was too late to alter it; and when my attention was called to the fact, I determined for that reason not to dispose of it.” A long explanation ensued, Luscombe learning all that had occurred after Philip’s departure. When he heard of the newspaper'Ellen had received, conveying the intelligence of hier husband's supposed death, Luscombe uttered an exclamation of surprise. - “Have yon no other reason for believing in Philip’s death than that paragraph?” he inquired. Ellen replied in the .negative.

Luscombe meditated for some moments, and then said: “It would be. wrong to create false false hopes, Mrs Whitmore; but I eannot help fancying Grabbe has something to do with tliis matter. I know that he was acting with Beecham before Philip left,' and it is just possible ‘ that it may be a.scheme of their contriving.” . Haynes, shook his heatk “ I do not think it probable,” he said, “ the'long silence corroborates the news; besides, it appears to me rather, too forced a conclusion for this matter-of-fact age. Reflect, my dear Sir, that Philip would be liable to return at any moment and frustrate their plot ; fori you surely do not suspect Beecham of plotting his brother’s death ? ” Ellen turned pale, and clasped her hands, waiting breathlessly for the answer. • Liiseombe noticed her agitation, and assuming a composure he was far from i feeling, replied, “Certainly not,, bat I. fancied—however, I am very glad this , event'lias occurred. As I have told you, T heard from Grabbe that Philip had left England, and although I have called on him several times. he has always met me with thesaine answer, * No news.’-'-Now, I think, *in -justice- to Mrs Whitmore, the. matter should be clearecLup ; and if you will allow me r to.act with you, Mr Haynes, we may be able to, obtain some definite account. It will be more, satisfactory to your client if the whole thing is made plain; ( we may, perhaps, get something oat of Grahbe’s clerk ; he is a roguish looking customer, but a little bribery is not-only justifiable, but judicious in some cases. As to the : picture, Mrs Whitmore, I shall feel pained If you .refuse to accept it; my former friendship for Philip-warrants me in requesting your .acceptance of it,, in metnoriam.” . Seeing that Luscombe would be mortified by a refusal, Ellen acceded to Liiscombe’s request; and left the room with Haynes, Luscombe saying to the latter before he went, at the same tune giving him a : meaning glance, “I shall have the honor of calling at your office to-morrow morning, Mr Havnes.” _ . •.

The solicitor replied by a nod, and Luscombe returned, to his guests, not much inclined to.;share in their hilarity, or to endure ;the ,“ chaff ” with which his re-appearance-was hailed. , , . “ Well, old. fellow” said Lowe,: “are we to congratulate you upon a sudden conquest? When is the happy event to come off P ” 1 ' “ Stuff,” replied'Luscombe; “ it was a business matter, a commission for a picture:” ; “ All right,” rejoined his friend, bestowing a significant ,wiak on the rest, “ no ; doubt the, production will be an improvement. from the last. However, letfs be jolly, and sink the shop.” - : Luscombe got rid of his guests as, soon as possible; and retired to rest, after thinking over liis plan of proceeding with Haynes'on, the following day. -, ! ' 1 • ' - “ ' ; ' i; ■ > ; : •; . ■ —C=s — .. ' • CfiC^T ® R : XIX - ; 11 AND;COUNTERPLOT.' GH,Luscombe- had, .in eonse: ofEllen’spresence,-.refrained from giving expression:to his, ~suspiyeidns, he .really did” enterimh:. some | of, foul’play"on the’part of A j *y .: tyßeecham towards his;brother.; and . S( Jki ;helwM desurpui' of talking 'the matter l over \ y: >with‘ Haynes.- He found -the solicitdr at his office, and at once'told him! what he suspected. : - . “ L do not exactly agree with you,” said Haynes. “ It appearß that Philip’s father lias already .disinherited him;and fiepm what Ij hear. of-Beecham’s himself'iii with your idea, thht it is tp -have' the matter,<fieared up V the question K: what is the best way ’to proi c^d? ' '-f'f i- .‘‘.L'think 'something : .imay'-'be.-done 'with , the elerk ”i trepliedfLußComhe.^.'i“ Ife thing to .do* hut -from; what; ]Lhave! seeniof Grabbe; thaWherejiß^ihethmgsOTo^in.'.theafihif.j.;ahd

“ You must be careful'nbt toi&pOse yom tiye,” 'said;Haynes,' '“ihTtHe- r eyeht;pf : proving faithful to'his would'Teuder an;-.forther 'attemp^wo^efthan\cusßl»ii;^ ! y“ Trust: toirmyridiscretioh;”;; was,ithe.rejpinder ; Jywill into\his ; ;tfiat;most meh ;haye..h;,yiilnerable .point,,is one ,ofj the .few truisms X imye picked upi:::T, will ask t 0,., give hie a week, and you by that time.” , Luscombe ehlnstad tlie , services of . his seiyaht; Josh, iii the ; ehqhiries he made;' but Ihe 'Phly point of any* importance ascertained by tliat:iudividual was, that Walters spent an evening; oneettf week at a public house: near ,his residence^in Stamford-street,. where he filled the. presidential chair at a harmonic meeting. Luscombe determined to visit the house on the next occasion that Walters was likely to be present,‘and endeavour to make his acquaintance. In accordance with' this determination, he presented himself at the “Blackfriar’s Anns,” and 1 interrogated a greasy-looking waiter, rejoicing in the aristocratic cognomen of “ Bill.”- .... ...

“ ‘ Lively Buffers,’ sir, yessir, first floor, turn to the left,” and Luscombe, following the direction, onnd himself outside a room, from whence issued a confused clattering of pots and glasses, being the “ Lively Buffers’ ” playful manner of expressing their high opinion of a song just concluded. Luscambe’s student days had rendered him familiar with such scenes, he therefore eutered the room, and ordering a glass of brandy and water, looked round at the individuals assembled.

He was surprised at the appearance of Walters. He had formerly only seen Grabbe’s clerk in' business hours, when the sneaking air that pervaded that respectable practitioner’s office hung over him; hut here he was quite a different- being, appearing one of the joiliest .of/the. company. Luscombe moved towards the president’s chair, and assuming a-frank manner, asked him to drink ; an invitation which that potentate vyas".graciously pleased to accept. : Waiters had evidently been indulging freely; he 'looked at Luscombe searchingly, and said; “ I’ve seen ■ you before, —let’s see, oh! up at old Vampire’s;' you came about Whitmore—uo go, eh ? Close file, old Grabbe—now if you had come to me”——and he bestowed a significant wmk ( upon Luscombe, . ; The latter, hesitated, uncertain whether Walters was endeavouring to perform the operation of ‘•pumping,” but that worthy’s attention was already diverted to. the disposal of his . liquor, and Luscombe determined to wait for a time, hoping that continued refreshert- would render his'new acquaintance more communicative. In the mean time; he made an an inspection of the company, the major part of whom appeared to consist of junior clerks,; would-be “swells,” et hoc genus omtie; great;;ih ponderous .chains aud loudpatterned garments, and contriving to spend, after f'ouy'p’clock, about , three times the amount that they 1 received as .'“screw” for their day’s occupation; leading what they considefed an enviable .life, until the tailor will stand it no longer, and ’the. little bills become due, when a collapse and. they retire, to make - room , for 6lhers?; of the same stamp.. , , ; 1

was evident-that the-“Lively.Bnffef a”f>patfiSnage was a good : thing for mine whose satellites industriously .suggested-to the guests the possibility of. their requiring another “go,” until in a short time the majority were sufficiently elevated to manifest a predeliction for noisy choruses. Luscombe was watching an individual who was shouting at rhe top of his voice the burden of a ditty having reference to the. heinous crime of depriving an impoverished • individual of his malt liquor,-when, he felt s hand laid on his shoulder, and heard Walters say, “ Let’s get out of this; I want to.talk to vou.”

Luscombe immediately rose and left the room, followed by Walters, who, to the former’s astonishment, appeared more sober than he. had done a short time previously. Iu fact, he was not as intoxicated as lie appeared; he was just far enough gone to render an individual of his nature doubly cautious. He led the way down Stamford-street, and pausing before due of the last houses in that thoroughfare, opened .the door, aud beckoned to Luscombe to enter..

“Follow me'upstairs,” he said, - striking a match, “mind how yon go, for it’s a precious shaky old crib; ” aud with this caution lie piloted the way into a. dingy bedroom. Lighting a candle, he busied,himself for a few moments in dragging from some mysterious. receptacle a case bottle, which he placed on the table, and manufacturing some hot water with’ the aid of a “ bachelor’s kettle:” • While he was engaged in this occupation; Luscombe had an opportunity of noting the contents of the .room. , Walters tenanted this tjaom when his duty did not require him to sleep at the chambers in Thavies Inn—that is to say,' when His employers had business on hand which required (heir presence without' a . witness. The - apartment was shabbily and' scantily furnished;' the ’ bnly noticeable article being a large : - deed-ijo'x;> apparently superannuated: from soime lawyer’s office, secured by a heavy padlock. • i. “Rum hole, isn’t it!”: asked Walters, reading Luseombe’s opinion in the expression. of. his fea-; tures, “.but that’s neither, here , nor -there; the question is, what do you want to get out of. me, for I .suppose that was what brought you to,the ‘Blackfriar3 ’ to-night?” Luscombe was taken 1 aback at his-motive being so accurately fathomed; still there was something undefined, yet eueouraging, in the- clerk’s- torte, which led-him to,reply,- “I will be candid; with you; I, want some, information which you can give foe, and for . which I am. . prepared .to pay: handsomely;” : a i .. ' “ Stop ; a minute,” interposed Walters,' “ I want to';ask you,'a- 'question:.first—wlxat has become of Philip,Whitmore? ;V “ Why, .that ,is. , the~ very , thing I wish to ascertain, from you !’’ exclaimed. Luscombe, in surprise.—

; Waiters grinhed—it -was not a smile, but a'sardonic .twist, of the features..;. “I!ye ; saved you beating; about.’ the ’.bnsKj ’.at., any; .raiei”, he said'; “ and now : jtOvbusiness.,- ;What do you know about him ?r—speak plain if you want to : gain vour end; X' can' tell if you are-keeping anything: back • and and ifyou do,'l;cry : ;off.”; ' ' ; ; t ; - After a few mbment’s. reiflection, Luscombe considered . would: be Jthe best course dp. sq, and accordingly: redated all he knew concerning the matter.- • jv jWalters gavefo; long’;thistle 'when-he heard of phffip’kwife hein’g ih.Uhe .'po&essidn of property, h fact witli-which all Kisna\asfdropping ahd Mtthr.-. opening Lad not.; l l ‘his fihgersVand:..app^rad:%icitedv4;^ - I don’t beneye a word of' the account of his forsatisfactdry.prcmffchatffieisthvihgP’f::^^ ikore’s; my

undertake to give h hnn'dre'd s* .r:! V.-; j twh/ and ; l agree,’.’ said Walters. i I ’think it unay .be mahaged,’’< rejoined LuscpMe,-; “put of course the proof must‘be perT will you give” continued Walters, “ ; if;;.hy^3foy;fistrumentulity Philip Whitmore.is Bis; proper' position,—to'the his inKeutfin|e, without his father, or any on'e else to deprive him of it ? ” : dp > this?”' asked -Luscombe in - v ... on two conditions,”: replied WalterK^

,; “ And those conditions”-—enquired.Luscombe. “A fair remuneration for my trouble, in the first place,” was the reiply, “and in. the second, that .you assist me in. giving that old scoundrel, Grabbe, his deserts.

Luscdmbe’s reply sounded remarkably like a wish which, if fulfilled, would provide Grabbe with a very unpleasant termination to his carreer. “ Do what you like : to. him,” he continued, “No one would rejoice more than myself to see him *. served.out,’, as you term it.” ' ' .

“ Then.,it’s a bargain,” rejoinded Walters, “ come here again this day week, and ,1 fancy I shall be able to tell you something that will astonish you.”

(To be continued.)