CHAPTER VII.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1893, 23 August 1884, Page 5 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VII.

At four o'clock in the afternoon of the day following the events recorded in the last chapter, Philip Penfold and Herbert Fairleigh drove up in a hansom to " The Priory," as Mrs. Browning's house was called. It is a large, rather sombre-looking building, built of blue stone, with gable end 5. and a steep roof, pierced with multitudinous chimneys, and further adorned with attic windows, which gives the pile an old-fashioned air, as if i£ had been transported from some old Flemish city. It is two stories high, and if it had been seven or eight -it might have passed muster in the Cowgate or the Auld Beekie. It is, however, relieved by a verandah, which runs- round two sides of the building, and which looks as' if it had been stuck on by the architect afterwards as a happy thought. Passing out of the street, through a narrow iron gate, Philip and Herbert traversed about twenty yards of a flower garden and shrubbery. At the summons of the bell a neatlooking maid servant answered the door, and showing them, into the drawing-room, took their cards into her mistress. ■ Ib spite of the. sombre appearance of the house from' the. outside, the room they were shown into had<» cheerful and elegant look.

*k. laiyfl bow rn'mlnir fe insj the west gave Kufficieot light to make ibe room of a bright and airy aspect, when the curtains were drawn aside ; while th& adjustment of the curtains would admit as much or as little light as was required. The walls, which were painted of a salmon color, were hung with rare and valuable engravings, besides a number of paintings in oil and water colors. All the various nick-nacks that ladies co much affect in their d rawing- rooms, were scattered about in profusion ; whilo in every available place, not otherwise occupied, some rare and valuable pot- plant attracted the attention by its exquisite beauty. There was a rustle of a silk dresi, and a musical voice, which made Prnlip Penfold start and turn pale, said : "We are very old friends, Mr. Penfold, and although I thought to conceal my identity, I cannot but fed happy that we have met." Philip Penfold seized the hand of the lady, and exclaimed, in tones of astoniahiaent which left no room for doubt as to his being taken completely by surmise : " Gracious powers 1 Emily Morton 1 Mrs. Borlace 1 " It was now Herbert's turn to express surprise ; and the quick sturt he gave at the name of Borlace recalled the lady to herself. She turned, with a smile, and, extending her hand to Herbert, Bald : " I do not require to be told that Herbert Fairleigh is a son of my very dear friend, Laura Penfold. This is indeed a double pleasure ; but yet lamat a loss to know the reason of this visit, when it is clear, from the expression of surprise which eso&ped you both, that, neither of you knew me as other than Mrs. Browning.; and," turning to Philip, " I must beg of you never to mention the name of Borlace again, if it can be avoided. The name recalls most painful recollections. I will tell you my unhappy story some other time ; but I may mention now that, two years after that most unhappy marriage, I was forced to leave Garton Borlace, and take an assumed name. I have not seen him for year 3, except oace, when I discovered that he was living in Paris ; and the knowledge that he had taken up his abode there, hastened my departure from that city." "Do you know where he is now? " queried Philip. i " No ; but I believe he is still in Europe." " He is here, in Melbourne," said Herbert Mrs. Borlace turned deadly pale, and would have fallen but for the support of Philip, who caught her in his arms. She recovered herself quickly, however, and sank into a chair ; but all the color had left her face, and her countenance, losing its usual expression, assumed a weary, hunted look, which was painfully indicative of her feelings. " I think, uncle, it will be better to explain to Mrs. Borlace the exact position of affairs, and also what we contemplate doing, with her approval." Herbert hereupon described to Mis. Borlace the rencontre the previous night at the Burke and Wills monument, the tracking of Captain Borlace to the Cave of Adullam ; and when he came to the part where he mentioned the name ofcMrs. Browning, that lady said : 11 Then he evidently does not know me." " Clearly not," replied Herbert. " He mentioned the name in the most mat-Isr-of-fao^ way,',' added Philip ; " and there was not the smallest change in hia countenance, or the least modulation in the tone of his voice, which there could not fail to have been had he known that the house he was ftoing to enter as a burglar and & thief waa inhabited by his wife." " Wretched, unhappy man 1 " murmured Mrs. Borlace, but her face brightened aa she recognieed that he whom she feared so much was as yet ignorant of her abode. " What is best to be done," she continued, "to prevent the wretched man from perpetrating this one more crime— to save him, if possible, from himself."' "Uoclo at first suggested calling in the police," said Herbert. "Nolno 1 no 1 anything but that ; I can* not forget that he is the father of Marie." " The best thing we can do," said Herbert " in view of the new development, is to follow out my original suggestion ; only, instead of each of us trying to catch one of them, wi both concentrate our endeavors to oaptura the captain. If we once catch him We will give him his choice of two things : either we hand him over to the police, when h6 will get fiteen years on the roads, or he can clear ouS of the country, and never show his faoe hefa again." " Oh, yes I" exclaimed Mrs. Borlaoe; " and I have saved some money. I will give him £500, with which he may, perhaps, begin a new life." "But he must not know anything about you. He must be kejt in ignorance of your existence." " True ; I had forgotten that, but surely that difficulty can be overcome." "Oh, yes; easily," said Philip; "he doea not know me, and will suspect nothing. I will assume the fdle of the benevolent millionaire. I will to be interested in the story of his life. Of coarse he will cram me with a thousand lies, all df which I will most innocently pretend to believe. I will weep over him and bless him, and give him a fifty pound note, with the intimation that a draft for £500 will await him at Sari Francisco." The time that the attempt waa to be made was to be two o'clock in the morning. It was arranged that Mrs. Borlace should leave the door on the latch, afld that Philip should have the latch key. All the inmates of the Priory were to retire at the usual time ; indeed, nobody was to be advised as to the ; proposed attempt. Philip and Herbef t would \ let themselves in about half-past one and wait for the Appearance of the Captain. The arrangements were all very well conceived for the bloodless capture of the Captain and for his expatriation ; but " the beat laid schemes of mice and men gang aft a-gley," as the poet; 1 says ; and in this case the catetnlly concoted counter-plot of Herbert and Philip did not pan out quite as was anticipated. (To be continued.)