CHAPTER XXX.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 186, 19 July 1873, Page 2

CHAPTER XXX.

Shall I not then bo stilled in the > ault, To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in ? There was something in E\an Rowland's eye, as he watched Gerard fumbling for his papers, a sort of sparkle or twinkle,, which put that Young vi.m on Ins guard. He had not lost sight of that bag since the nmhl he went astray in the hills ; he had notieed,\vben he awoke in the carriage, that his bag had been lying by his side ; whilst, to the best of his recollection, when he had fallen asleep, it was slung round his neck. Was this all, then, a preconcerted conspiracy, a comedy got up for his deception?— a tragedy, indeed, it might have been. And Wmny ? had she, too, been put on to beguile him ? No ; he wouldn't behere it ; and yet, his head went round and round at the thought. No ; if Winny were a deception, there was no truth in all the world! ' Come, come ! ' said Evan, ' don't let us get to a dispute about this. Wait and see — wait and see.' ' I seem to have mislaid my paper*,' said Gerard, after a pause. 'At all cventi, jou believe me to be what I represent myself?' ' Of course I do,' said the old man ; ' but if you take tip a hostile position, I must treat you as an enemy. Can't wo take up the matter in a friendly way, eh ? You want to ascertain why tins money isn't paid ? Now, just conic into my little parlor and sit down, and I'll tell you.' 1 You see, my dear sir,' began the banker — 'you see that, if there is anybody to blame, it is I. Arthur knows nothing about it, nothing. And yet, lion lam to blame, I don't know. I received five thousand pounds from Arthur ; I remitted the amount in good bills to London, expressly to meet my son's draft* ; but it appears— 3 ou know, my dear sir — there, I am treating you as one of the family — you know a banker's business is full of vicissitudes. Well, I've had some heavy, very heavy losses, and, in fact, it appears that my account was overdrawn; I thought they had security, ample security for any advances ; and, indeed, I never dreamed that my old friends and correspondents would have dishonoured mo in this way. It's — it'?, nearly killed mo !' said Evan, passing his hand across hip face. 'But I think I've got over it; Ido think I shall,,stand firmer than ever. My credit, sorely shaken, might agarrr be upset, if it were known that a government officer had come to take possession of my son's office ; so again I implore you, w ait and see.' ' One thing,' said Gerard. ' Did you send your carriage to the station, intending to leave me on the hills ?' 'Listen! I did send John to meet you, intending that ho should delay yon, by keeping you driving among the lulls all the next day. It was very foolish of me, and I can only suppose that I was half-mad when I did it.' ' It seems to have paid, anyhow,' said Gerard thoughtfully. 'Well, after all, some of our maddest freaks do pay 111 the end. Come, Mr Rowlands, I think I can see my way out of this. If there's no other deficiency than this five thousand, we Bhall do very well. But how am Ito tell that without seeing your son's stock of stamps ?' ' You shall see it at once. I've got the keys of the safe. Meet mo in a friendly way, and I'll meet you. See; there is a wav down here to my strong-room ; all my son's valuable stamps are kept down here.' ' There are three keys to this strong-room, y&u observe,' said the old man, taking Gerard down the steps, and unlocking .the door. It was a vaulted, iron-cased chamber, small, and close, and musty ; round it were ranged three large iron bates. ' Come inside, come idsule. One. of these safes, you observe, is cash ; one, securities and customers' \ aluables ; tho third is stamps. And we've three keys tothe room : I have one ; Arthur has the second' l And I have the third, 1 said a sneering voice ; and with that the door was slammed to, closing witli a low dull metallic ring. ' I shan't want the key any more,' sounded a voice through the keyhole ; 'so 1 11 leave it in the lock for you, Mr Rowlands, bach Shall I put tho shutters up before Igo ; and a little bit of paper — "Closed for the present "—eh, Mr Xowlauds ? Did you think you'd get the better of me, eh ? '