CHAPTER XXIV.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 16, 19 April 1884, Page 4

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE PRIVATE SECRETARY. Sir Frederic presented himself at Mildmay House at the earliest possible hour that etiquette allowed on the appointed day. There was an air of suppressed excitement, of nervouß exhilaration about him that gave him an even more erratic appearance than usual, and "poor Ted," as Hortense used to call him, had never been remarkable for his serenity and repose of manner. He found the dowager, hergranddaughter, and a strange gentleman in blue eye-glasses, waiting in the library when he was shown there from the reception room after sending up his card. j He looked at the gentleman rather frowningly, upon which Lady Mildmay I said, carelessly, "It is anew assistant I have called in, Sir Frederic, my private secretary. I thought it right I should have some ona here to assist my memory of what is said and done, in case we have any misunderstandings," "As you please, yet I hope it is an unnecessary precaution. I hope this is merely a family talk, my dear madam. I wish to be only kind and generous, to smooth away every ugly suspicion. For that reason I would not have my lawyer here at all,

though he warned me that ray own prudence could not be trusted. I "You speak mysteriously. I never could read enigmas, Ted. Let us have plain language to-day, " spoke the dowager with a dignity that chilled him a little, though he tried to laugh it off and assume an air of easy assurance and nonchalance. " By all means, my dear Lady Mildmay. Let me commence at once. Hortense, my darling, when will you give me the dearest happiness of my life? How soon shall be our wedding-day ?" Thegirlstartedupfrom her seat, withfiashingeyes, and a gesture full of the old passionate scorn ; but in a moment after she sank down again, pallid and trembling, and faltered : "I have nothing to say; I leave everything to grandmamma." The new secretary watched all closely from under his shielding glasses, though he seemed to be busy with the papers spread upon the table before him. "Then, my dear madam, it is of you that I must beg the speedy answer," contiuued Sir Frederic. " And what if I do not find myself ready to give it ?" asked the dowager, quietly. " I think I shall be able to convince you of the wisdom on your part of making yours«if ready, " returned he, confidently. " The i ruth is, madam, I am no longer the weak, silly boy you have been used to look upon as a sort of plaything to be caressed when you are in a good humour, and snubbed when otherwise. I come here to-day a man strong in my rights, and determined to use that gti-ength. I very much prefer to have no sharp words, to be spared all unpleasantness, for I love Hortense ; but if you thwart me, I swear to you I will not scruple to expose everything to the whole world. 1 will bring forward my accusation and my proofs, and take them into a court of law." The secretary rose up quickly, and then dropped down again into his seat ; for the dowager waved a rebuking hand towardhim. Lady Hortense flushed angrily, and moved to her grandmother's side ; but the latter only smiled compassionately, as she might have done over the folly of some wayward child, and said, calmly : "And what is your accusation? Speak it freely, Frederic. If you are a man, use manly arguments, and state facts, not deal in mysterious innuendoes." " I accuse you of forging the will of the late Sir Richard Mildmay, madam. That document was executed after Sir Richard's death," retorted Sir Frederic, hotly, the colour rising angrily to his forehead. " I trust I am explicit enough for your ladyship ] now !" Hortense turned upon him fiercely. "How dare you speak in that tone, and utter such a base calumny here ?" ' ' She goaded me to it. But it is true. I can give proofs to satisfy the most incredulous. Investigation has shown more startling revelations than we dared to expect. There was always an unexplained mystery that Lady Mildmay's high and mighty way prevented an inquiry into. No such will was written before Sir Richard left England, but one entirely different. And Sir Richard never came back, as we all know. More than that. At that time a very large sum of money was raised from the estates, and it disappeared— was never accounted for. Are these things open to legal inquiry, madam ? or shall I set the time for the wed-ding-day that give 3 me Sir Richard'? daughter for my wife, and thus makes the result of these irregular proceedings of little account ? Once again the secretary started from iiis seat, and once more his clenched fingers slowly relaxed their iron grasp of the table at a soothing glance of the dowager's. "I am sorry you gave so little credence to my warning when you spoke in this manner before," calmly declared Lady Mildmay, with a stately dignity that was more crushing than the fiercest burst of rage. "I warned you then, Ted, that the one to suffer most keenly from this investigation would certainly be Sir Frederic Mildmay. Do I understand that you have set lawyers ferreting into the private affairs of the Mildmays?" "I have certainly opened an investigation. I owed it to my own position," he answered, sullenly ; " but I took care to select a trusty man who would go no further than I ordered, and would keep discreet silence at my command. I have told you again and again that if you give Hortense to be my wife there can be no trouble about it." " But the trouble will come if we refuse that ? You wish me to see that plainly ?" she questioned. "Yes; I will push the investigation to j the lowest dreg," he said, hoarsely. "And the proud name of the Dowager Lady Mildmay shall be dragged in the mire." "No," said the dowager, solemnly, " that will not be the result ; • ' but the name of Sir Frederic will vanish into the air. So, then, we understand each other at last." "Do you mean to defy me?" asked Sir Frederic, angrily. "Lady Mildmay, you are a strange woman, but I cannot believe you so rash as that. Are you going to refuse Hortense to me ?" " Yes, if Konrade Earle is proved guiltless of the charge against him," was her firm reply. There was a little stifled cry from Hortense. Her persevering suitor turned to look at her, and bit Ms lip angrily. "Ah," said he, with a bitter sneer, "I am safe there. His guilt is not so easily wiped away ; Lady Hortense knows it." "Yet if I were free to choose, I could be happier with him guilty than with you innocent, and you know that," declared Hortense, impetuously. " As you please to be insulting and unkind, I had better terminate this interview at once," said Sir Frederic, rising to his feet and growing very red and angry. "I thought I had come to a friendly consultation, but I see my mistake. In future, madam, we will make our lawyers the medium of communication. I warn you that I shall institute a legal inquiry at once, and I leave the immaculate Dowager Lady Mildmay to decide how light an accusation the forging of an English baronet's will will be likely to prove." "Grandmamma, why do you allow him to say such things?" vociferated Hortense, fiercely. " Let me call Thomas to turn him out." " Ah, she knows too well the danger that threatens," sneered Sir Frederic, watching the dowager, who stood with one hand shading her face and the other pressed tight against her heart. " She knows how little that will can bear the light. Sir Richard Mildmay's hand was never laid upon it." '•It is false!" vociferated a new voice, fiercely and sternly, and tho secretary pushed back his chair and came with two strides in front of the startled youth. " Dare not repeat the lie again !" The latter changed colour, but he kept his air of bravado. "And who are you, I should like to know, that you venture to speak thus insolently to Sir Frederic Mildmay ?" demanded he. . The dowager had dropped her face into her clasping hands. She stood tremblingly awaiting the answer, which came presently in a deep and solemn voice. "I am Richard Mildmay, this noble lady's son, this lovely maiden's father. Sir Richard Mildmay, young man, while you are no longer the baronet ! Do you comprehend the situation now ?" (To be Continued,)