The Dark House at Highgate

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10692, 13 August 1912, Page 2

The Dark House at Highgate

OUR SERIAL.)

BY DERWENT Ml ALL,

CHAPTER XVI— (Continued.)

Only one consolation came to me in tlio dense darkness of that atrocious xi-'pcht; it seemed almost certain to me that Tony was innocent, and that my I doubt a concerning him had been unjust. If Rimington was so alarmed at my attempt to procure information about him it must be because he had a. crime c,n bis conscience. And the fact that Cluny bad lent a hand in niv rapture certainly seemed to indicate that I h«d guessed rightly ; I had been trapped beca.urio I was suenected nf knowing too. much about the Polton tragedy, or of being too actively interested in clearing up that mystery, which involved them both. By the time I had recovered from ray "sandbagging"—an atrocious trick that, plainly inspired by Rimington — hunger began to assert itself, .and helped to keep me wakeful;..although, indeed, .1. was in no mocd for deep, in any case.

My prison, intended probably for a pantry, or for a servant's bedroom — in an age- when the comfort of servants was not studied —t,ee:»<:d damp and unwholesome. The shrubs, growing so close to the window, effectually prevented sunshine and fresh aid from entering ifc at any time,; and the smell of decaying leaves was heavy on the air. I could not sleep. I rose and paced my cell, in Cimmerian darkness; I was mad with indigation at the thought that Rimington and his friends dared to snatch my liberty from me in this cowardly way. And I dare say I wasted a good deal of nervous energy uselessly, until, with a sigh of relief, I sa.w a strip of gray light above my mattress, and knew that dav was breaking.

"Where?" "I refuse to tell you."

Then I sat down again; and, in spite of hunger, I dropped asleep as the morning light revealed the damp, moldering plaster walls. I awoke with a quick sense of imminent danger; and saw Doctor Rirn-ingt-on standing i nthe middle of the room watching me. I stumbled up hurriedly, and he must have guessed that I premeditated violence, for he said at once : "Steady now, steady. I learned the trick of shooting from my pocket when l' was but Wtet, and I haven't- forgotten it. You're covered, sir. Best stand where you are." ' quickly noted that h.is hands were in the side pockets of his coat. Obviously he wished to impress me with his perfect coolness and mastery of the situation. Tie would not even trouble to draw his pistol. But, although I calm .and unruffled, he looked gray and worn, as if bis night had not been restful. We stood looking at one another tor 'a few seconds in silence; then, since neither vble::.':c< cor,'d help me, I 1 asked: i "Why have you treated me like this?"

He considered for a moment; and when lie spoke it. wsvs in a grave, subdued tone,'which did not reassure tn-c. If lie had been flippant I could have believed that wo were not enemies past hone of compromise. As it was — "Why have I treated you like this, sir?" he reneated. "Because, sir," lie continued slowly, "you have chosen to mix yourself up in my affaire. Because you wen+. out of your way to question a discharged subordinate; and that showed that you meant me harm. You can't blame me if I play for my own hand. But for your visit to Albert Blight you might have been in the country at the present moment, with the young lady who is wondering at your absence —and your silence. "l induced my man to> follow you yesterday from here to your "hotel; and from your hotel 1 hoped lie would fellow you to Waterloo and report you snt'elv (Jut of London. But who i. to my surprise, he reported that lie had followed you to my own office, where you made inquiries, I saw I mil ;t take strong measures to Keep you from meddling in my business any further, until we had had another talic together." "Ther. the crooked fellow was 'your spy," I said, "and you sent him on with a forged letter purporting to come from Mademoiselle Cecile? I see. Quite a pretty little plot. May I ask why you wanted me to leave London ?"

"Because," said. Rimington with slow deliberation, "T wished to break into your studio at Chelsea. Yes, sir, and I wanted to be first assured that you were not there. You had stated that you were going out of town, but I had to >be sure that you went, so that there might be no danger of an encounter."

This cool confession, made in perfect seriousness, fairly staggered me. In spite of my dull rage, my curiosity was great. "And why did you want to get into my studio?" L asked blanklv.

"Well, I had a great fancy for visiting it; and that's the truth," replied Rimington. "Perhaps I wanted to see some of your unfinished canvases. We will let it go at that. At all events. T was so anxious to visit it that I took tho trouble when you were asleep upstairs the night before last to take wax impressions of your keys. I might have taken you prisoner then, but thought it needless, as you .spoke of leaving London next day. As you returned here yesterday afternoon, however, I was last night able to make use of your own keys, which I have much pleasure in returning to

A ilior of "Lady Rosalie's l'.-./acy," "Bellamy's Warniog," "The Strang* Case ->i Yincent Hume/'. "In the Web. '' Etc Etc.

C'HAPTE-R" XYII

A rJIUNIGIIT SURPRISE

(To be Continued.)

you. And ho handed :i.c hack niv cm keys^ ■ Vvhat does all this foilv mean®'' T demanded angrily. "What has my studio to do with you? Wiiv didn't you ask trie to take you to it, if you wished to go there?"

you are a suspicious man, and I very much want a certain little cabinet now in \ our possession. If I huJ pressed you For it too often you would have wondered, ami wanted to know why. So I concluded the safest plat; was to try and steal it. My plan has only miscarried because the cabinet is not in your studio." * '

My wonder and curiosity grow apace, but one thing that had puzzled mo puzzled me 110 longer. "And it was to steal this same cabinet that you broke into Mr Betsworth's house," 1 said sharply; "and another man stands aeccused of the crime that resulted from that!"

"That is not so," replied Rimington, with fierce emphasis. "I went down into the country to try aiul buy the little cabinet from that unforunate man; I will make no secret of that- now; but before I could, see him I heard of his death, and know that I must wait until his heir took possession, or until there was a sale and I failed to secure it when the sale did take place, and you omitted to- send it on to me, as promised. I was afraid to press yon for it, as I have said, and for the season I have stated. You' see I am quite frank, Mr Rycroft; and now I want to knowwhere that little cabinet is."

"It is warehoused, with other things," I replied.

"I'll leave you to think that over," said Rimington. "I can tell you I'm in earnest, and mean to have it. And until I have it I must inconvenience you by keeping you under lock .and koy. There's no other way for it, Mr Rycroft." "And if you had it of course you would let me out and tell a story of assault and wrongful imprisonment to the police?" I asked scornfully. It seemed to mc that he had a shifty look when lie replied : "Mr Rycroft, when once I have that little cabinet you can leave here, a.s free'as air. But you will give your 1 word to take no action against me whatsoever."

"And you would trust my word?" I asked incredulously. "It would be to your interest to be silent about the little inconvenience to which I hove put you. But we will talk about that later. For the present you are in need of breakfast, and I will bring yoji some shortly. I .hope yon will conclude, sir, to make your stay here as short a3 possible, though I am not ordinarily an inhospitable man." And with this pleasantry Doctor Rimington quitted the room. There was a plain issue between us. lit all events, and f war; glad to bo iict wholly in the dark.

bad not Ions; ifft mo vr'-n; the lm«.lv\s opposite the upper hf\!f of the window quivered, and once more I had the pleasure of seeing the yhhtor countenance .of the wry-neck-ed ronn. He was cu hi? hands pud knot's, looking in at me through the bars. For or.c moment. I had a mad hop? that h'-> came from Cecile. But lie soon disillusioned me. Speaking with the same unctuous smoothness that had deceived me into believing in his honestly at Waterloo Station, lie said : "I trust T didn't startle you. sir. I shall to tire as soon as Doctor Rimington has brought in your breakfast. For your own sake. I must ask you to let the doctor bring in your breakfast without molestation." I turned from him in disgust. The man clearly meant that he had instructions to shoot me if I attacked Rimington while his hands were full. From their point of view it was a very necessary precaution ; but it was intolerable to think that I should at all times be subject to the espionage of this ill-favoured rascal.