TIE & TRICK,

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2412, 24 December 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

TIE & TRICK,

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15V HAWLEY SMART, Aitiiob oi' “Bukezik Lancton,” “Bkokkn Bonos,” “Sduiai. Sinxkbs,” “ Tim Gukat Tontine,” “At Taui.t,” &c.,

CHAPI’KR XLII. THE DUMB PEDLER. Tin: Golden Bush Imd no move constant habitues than Giovanni and Herr Stein. To the bandit, it represanted the principal attraction of his day. To hia coarse sensual nature the chief delights of this world were centred in eating and drinking, and it may be, gambling, ■which, ho was now in Naples, rather took the form of buying tickets in the Jotterv. There was no place in which ho could’ indulge the former of those propensities so much at his ease, as at this nuiet tavern to which the police agent bad introduced him. Again Giovanni had very few acquaintances in Naples, and under the present circumstances shrank from making any. lie was nut a man, though gregarious in his disposition, likely to attract strangers, far from it. They ns a rule, repelled the advances of the swart ruthanly looking bravo, fie detested solitude, not that ho was suffering in the least from that remorse, which is so often pictured to us. An imaginative man of tho higher order of intelligence may suffer agonies, when in bis solitary hours lie is brought face to face with tho memory of his crime, but tho lower organisations of Giovanni's typo arc no more troubled by such recollections than a wild beast. It was simply that ho wearied of his own company, and looked forward to his midday meal with Leroux as tho pleasantest part of tho twenty-four hours. H e was far too well satisfied with his present quarters, and the money he obtained from Leroux made it not necessary for him to return to the hill-side. He hated work, but disliked starvation more, and it was this originally that had been the cause of his turning bandit. That Leroux should be as constant to their daily tryst as ho could manage may easily bo conceived. It was his sole opportunity of communicating with tho captives, his sole chance of obtaining any information as to what tho brigands were about. And the police agent was wonderfully keen about carrying oat a pet scheme of bis own which, should it prove successfully, would result in the capture uf L’atroceni and all his band. But tho best laid schemes of mico and men, as Burns tells us, often go amiss, and 'here was ibis little drawback to J.eronx’s project, that any failure would

probably cost (lie captives their lives. Hut the sanguine police agent, although quite aware of this risk, would not permit hims.'lf to think of failure, and unluckily did not take into his counsels those principally concerned. Tbe pair were seat'd at their customary t.-ibb-, and Giovanni in fall enjoyment of “ I suppose,” said Leronx, “yon have got no news for my friend.” " Not y d,” replied Giovanni, “ the time is too short, Signor .Stein. They could nut possibly have brought a reply from tbe camp by this.” Evident from this speech that Giovanni has been toh-rablycon(identic! of late about Ids connection with the brigands. He still refines to admit that lie is of them, but makes no secret to bis dear friend, •Signor Stein, that he is on friendly terms with a good many of them, and knows His Excolleney Count I’itroceni him-elf very wall. In good truth he might web say that, being little likely to forgot Ins Excellency so long as there ibreat.h in his body. Haughty, cold, cynical, and stern aa the Count habitually was with his followers, there were times when, like all great cominan dors, he would unbend. Napoleon, when things went well, would jest with the veterans of the grand army. Patroconi, in like manner, would oecasiona'ly condescend to drink, smoke, and gamble with his followers, ami. much as they looked up to him for ills dauntless courage and subtle intellect, it may be doubted whether they did not hold him in still higher reverence for Ids capabilities as a card-player. When he did join in the play it was generally a bad time for hisfollowers. Tli - Count, was one of the linest artists in Europe at eump'-Uinj furInn- at any game of chance. “No,” rejoined Leronx, “I suppose there lias hardly boon time, but our client, you sec, is anxious. He will have it that the tragedy in the Villa del Reale may probably a fleet the treatment of his friends. It is in vain, I point, out to him, that the murder of that luckless innkeeper can have nothing to say to Count. Patroconi. Quite impossible ; don’t yon think so ?” “Quite impossible,” re-echoed Giovanni, “ as if a man like his Excellency would cave what, happened to such scum as Matteo.” Leronx shot a keen glance at the speak er as he rejoined, “ His—ah'.—what did you call him —ah !—Excellency, meaning, I suppose, Count Patroceni, was not likely to know anything of a man like that unfortunate. Still I have heard that, these Ligand chiefs have agents under all sorts of disguises. But you know, Signor Giovanni, what tales people will tell of a mm like—like—his Excellency. By the way I didn’t know that Count I’atroconi went by that name.” “ Yes, ho does ; amongst those that serve him. His followers hold him far higher than this new king, who has just, been pitchforked on the throne. I don’t understand those things myself, but we all think his Excellency and his friends arc the proper men to govern ns !” “ And who are all ?” inquired Leronx, quietly. Rather an awkward question this. Giovanni was speaking with that laxity characteristic of much higher intelligence than his own. A tendency to state loosely “ that everyone says so,” meaning yourself and about a score of your acquaintances, is a weakness very prevalent, which has led to much perversion of history. Leroux’s question was an interrogatory enumently calculated to confuse a man like Giovanni. “ All!” he rejoined, “why everybody. Who are all? Why all the people you meet round about. Why do we call him bis Excellency ? Well, because be is bis Excellency. Why do people call you Signor .Stein ?” •'Ah, true, true,” replied Leronx. “1 am very stupid. We are naturally called by our names.” Or, he thought to himself, “ what we give out to he our names ; taken, too, in great measure by the world to be what we choose to label ourselves.” “ No, his Excellency,” resumed Gioi mini, “ is his Excellency, because he was made an in one of these numerous revolts we have bad and which didn’t come to anything. I never heard, but I daresay they made somebody bis Majesty, and if his bead is not cut oil be is no doubt walking about somewhere. But the Count. Ah ! they will never catch him.” “ Yes, everybody talks of haw clover his Excellency is." “Glover,” replied Giovanni, in a low whisper, “ he could walk straight through the bureau of police without being delected if he pleased. There is nothing he can’t do. There's nothing lie don’t know. And a man's life is not worth a dish of uiaeearoni who falls umle’diis displeasure, and ho is merciless, when he is offended.” As the last words, uttered in a low tone, escaped the bandit’s lips, a pedlar entered the room, and lifting his pack from off bis shoulders si ated himself at a table ad joining. A well-to-do pedlar apparently, well clad, and in appearance not. of the country. His hair was long and fair, and he wore coloured spectacles, probably on account of some weakness in hieyes, for his lithe wiry figure and general aspect by no moans indicated age —a muscular man of medium height, and seemingly in his prime Ho summoned the waiter by the simple process ol rapping on the table, and having glanced over the bill of faro indicated what be wanted by pointing to it with his finger. Nothing escaped the trained eye of Leronx, and it was hardly likely that ho would overlook the preternatural taciturnity of the now comer. “ You have known eases no doubt of tbe Count’s rclcntlesancss, Signor Giovanni,” observed Leronx carelessly. Known !” repeated the bandit, who bad by this, as usual, consumed a good deal of wine. “I’ve done more Hum know, I have seen. Yon will never mention it again, Signor Stein, but 1 saw him send a man out of tbo world ono morning for no graver olfonoo than being overpowered with thirst while engaged in his Excellency's business.” “ Whatexclaimed the polieo agent, with well assumed horror, “ you surely do not mean that Patroceni slow a man in cold blood, merely becanso lie had found the wine cup too great, a temptation “It he did not kill him,” rejoined Giovanni, “ it was simply because his day hud not come. He was carried away for dead.” “ What unheard of ferocity!” exclaimed Leronx. “ Such an act of cruelty as that is sure to recoil on the perpetrator. I know little of the world, my excellent friend, but I should imagine that it would bo dangerous to Count Patroceni that the victim of such barbarity escaped with his life.” “ I don’t understand,” rejoined Giovanni, curtly. “Simply this, that resentment, to injury is implanted in the breasts of all mankind. Men are apt to bo implacable with either undc-ervod or excessive punishment. A man who had suffered such uuheard-nf violence for so slight an offence would be dangerously likely to avenge it. Of course,’ continued Herr Stein, as lie threw himself baek in his chair, and lit a fresh cigarette, “if lie weie not a man, but simply a cringing spaniel, bis .submitting to it is ea>y of comprehension,” Giovanni writhed a little uneasily under Hie words of this quiet, elderly citizen. The bandit bud all the contempt for tbe dwellers in towns, eharactcri-tic of the bill men in all nations, characteristic, indeed, of the country people

everywhere. Your Coeknoy may look down upon the yokel when lie meets him in the streets of the metropolis; he may Imre the best of it there ; flurried hy the erowd and scenes, he is unaecustomod to, the' countryman in his confusion bows down before the arrogance of his city brother ; but for all that the denizen of the holds, the man who is face to face with nature, who is conversant with the song of the throstle, with the rustle of the trees and the bloom of the hedges, has in his heart, a snpromecontempt for the dweller in the city, who knows nothing about the cheery melody of the hounds, the craek of the breechloader over the uiiumnal stubbles, or the very meaning of the May fly being on. 1 he bandit said nothing ; bo was slow of thought, and the idea of cherishing resentment against I’atrocciii had never as yet crossed Ins mind. He regarded the Count as so far above him that he no mure thought of revenging himself for the punishment ho had received than a serf would have done in England in the days of the Saxons. With his equal like Matteo, it had been different; but his Excellency, ah 1 their very lives were in his hands, and yet hero was this quiet, elderly wine merchant, who apparently looked npeu it that such cruelty would naturally' ho resented, lie was rather stung by Leronx’s .speech, as the crafty police agent had intended he should be. Ho did not; like that this townsman should appear to think him deficient in spirit ; to fancy that, ho was a man who submitted meekly to injuries. Still, tbe idea that lie should never have lifted his hand against the Count scorned preposterous, Leronx watched him silently; he guessed pretty well what was passing through Giovanni’s mind, and wondered whether it was possible to blow that spark of resentment, that he felt he had kindled, into a flame “You don’t understand,” growled the bandit at last, quite oblivions that he was admitting that he himself had been the -nft'erer. “Giovanni would avenge his wrongs promptly on any other, but with his Excellency, our lives arc his, to do as ho wills with,” At those words Leronx fancied that he saw the pedlar at the adjoining table turn bis head towards them. The man had, up to tbits, been apparently absorbed in his own humble repast, and the police agent liad noticed his extreme taciturnity. The few (liree.ii'ins that it was requisite for him to give the waiters lie had done hy signs. A thought .-truck Loroux. 'suddenly rising from lib seat he crossed to the pedlar, ami with a courteous bow, profferred him a cigarette. The man took it, hut in answer to Leroux’s, “ Pray permit me to offer you a. cigarette,” he expressed his acknowledgment of the civility pantomimieally. Then seeing the perplexed look on Leronx’s face lie shook his head, touched his mouth two or throe times with his hand, and again shook his head. “ Why, I believe he is dumb,” exclaimed the police agent. As the exclamation escaped him the pedlar produced a pencil from his vest, and taking up the bill of faro, hastily scribbled on the hack, “ I cannot speak, but am much obliged for your kindness.” Patroconi—for of cousc it was he—had assumed dumbness the moment Leronx had addressed him. He did not know who the police agent might be, but he had long since learnt to mistrust all chance acquaintances. Further, there was Giovanni. Me had not the slightest fear of that worthy penetrating his disguise, and after Ins last speech, no fear of his intentions of betraying him ; but lie had no faith in Giovanni's discretion, and thought if the bandit recognised bis voice ho would show an astonishment that might arouse the attention of the spectators. Another thing, too, that (lashed across the Comi’t mind, who was tiiis sober-going citizen with whom Giovanni the hog had contracted such an apparent intimacy? He knew, none (letter, what Giovanni was in a social point of view, a dull, stupid drunkard, blindly’ devoted to him, Fatroeeni, like n huge mastiff, but without the brute's intelligence. It was hardly likely that a man of some culture, such as the donor of the cigarette undoubtedly was, should think it worth his while to cultivate Giovanni without an object. Leronx bad resumed his scat, the Count smoked on in silence, with his cars keenly alert to eateh further conversation, but the talk between the police agent and his guest languished. It was not that Leronx in the least despaired of gradually inflaming the mind of the bandit against Patroconi, but lie saw that it would take more time than he could give to it. The pseudo-pedlar at length picked up his pack, bowed to Leronx, and took his dep-irtii re. “ A great mistake,” muttered Fatroceni. when lie found himself in the street. “ Why did I trust to a blow in dealing with such a thick-skulled brute as that ? I ought to have shot him, as I originally meant. He is staunch enough, at present, lint I’ve no doubt bis elderly friend is an emissary of the police. Granting Giovanni remains loyal, as he doubtless intends, it is not difficult to turn a clumsy drunkard like that inside out. I wonder whether that very polite gentleman had the slightest suspicion as to who I really was. As well for him, perhaps, he hadn’t ; if lie were connected with the police, lie might have made a premature attempt to earn the five hundred pound a ottered for myapprehension, which would have resulted in another tragedy in a place of public entertainment. Can Hammcrton be playing me false? There’s coquetting with the police on the part of someone.” CHAPTER XLIIL AN UNWELCOME VISITORThe more he thought over it, the more convinced was Patroconi that Giovanni’s new acquaintance had sinister designs of sumo sort, and now the Count had the loss of Matteo at once brought home to him. Tiie chances were that the dead innkeeper could have thrown some light upon this mysterious intimacy, at all events ho was the very man to discover who was 0 ovanni’s new friend. True, that was a matter the Count could clear up for himself, hut for one tiling ho had no intention of being move than a day in Naples; he hail other things to look to, and ho would hardly have the time to make this discovery for himself. And yet if the police had got hold of Giovanni the sooner ho was ordered baek to the mountains the belter. A very- unsafe adherent, thought the Count, to go through the ordeal of cross-examination. He had been very much astonished at the man’s re-appear-ancc ; neither seeing nor hearing anything of him since he struck him down, he had never doubted but that Giovanni was dead, and he could not help thinking that it would have been better if he had never recovered. It was impossible to say what admissions might bo drawn from this the vciy dullest of his followers. So far the Count s inquiries concerning the death of Matteo bad no results ; there was no theory as to the murderer broached in the city. Conjecture was at fault, and except Leronx no one in Naples had a suspicion as to his identity. The Count was struck with this ; he had expected to haul the name of the supposed assassin in all men's months. The story of the murder undoubtedly was; Carlo hj id done nothing but describe the appearance of the house, ever since they

broke into it, but as to wbo the actual murderer was no one professed knowledge. Stall, thoutrli there was nothing to throw light upon Matteo’s fate, the Count thought it just as well that ho had visited the city. There was very possibly danger to be feared from Giovanni's indiscretion and the sooner that worthy rejoined his comrades, the safer it would be for them all. Ami then Patroconi made up his mind that ho would call upon Hammerton. He, at all events, would hear direct how the negotiations lor the ransom wore progressing, and would caution the Captain against any attempt at foul play, ilaimncrton’s astonishment was considerable when ho was informed that there was somebody wanting to flee him. The first inquiry was naturally as to what manner of man this might be, and upon being told that ho was apparently a Jew pedlar, Hammerton was about promptly to decline tho interview, when it suddenly occurred to him that this might bo a messenger from Patroconi. He had heard nothing from the oarao since ho left, for he knew nothing of Chisel’s correspondence, Leroux having cautioned the valet against showing Wheldrake’s notes to anyone, pointing out they might 00-t his master his life should they fall into tho hands of the police. So after turning it over for a ■niiuito or two iu his own mind, he ordered tho stranger to be shown up. The pedlar made a low bow as he entered tho room, and without speaking proceeded to open his pack. “ No, thank von, my good follow,” exclaimed Hammertoil, “ I don’t want anything.” Tho pedlar mo’ this with a deprecatory shrug of his shoulders, and continued the unpacking of his box. But Hammerton suddenly became conscious of a quick moaning glance, an impatient knitting of tho brows, and a slight, but rapid motion of his head iu the direction of the waiter. ‘‘That will do, thank you,” said the Captain to that latter functionary. “ Well, as you've come up, I will look at your rubbish, but you must not bo disappointed if I don’t buy.” “ Certainly not, rejoined tho Count, in his natural tones, as the door closed. “I am selling, it is true, but not such gewgaws as these: it’s men’s lives I deal in.” “The Count!” exclaimed Hammerton. “ Deal in men’s lives forsooth ! Yon arc juggling with your own when you dare to call upon me at an hotel in Naples.” “ I don’t see that I run any danger,” rejoined Patroconi, quietly. “It "isn’t that I place the slightest faith upon your honour. But, my friend, my mere apprehension would fill graves on the mountain. I don’t suppose you care much about Wheldrake and Glanfield, but you would hardly like to have Sir Jasper’s blood upon your head, much less to endanger the lives of the ladies.” “ You surely don’t mean to say,” exclaimed Hammerton. “I merely mean to say my wolves are hard to hold,” interposed the Count. “ If you knock the driver off the box you musn’t be surprised if the horses get out of hand. Now ; what have you got to tell us?” “I should have communicated with you before,” replied Hammerton, “ but you have perhaps not beard of the murder of that unfortunate Matteo ?” “Yes; what about it ?” “I know no more than does all Naples, that he was brutally slain by someone unknown the other night.” “ What do the police think about it ?” inquired Patroceni, sharply. “ How can I tell? You don’t suppose I've seen anything of them. You may not believe me, but I’ve been loyal to my mission and carefully kept out of their way. The money will be ready for you iu about a week now, I would have sent you word had I only known how.” “ No,” said the Count, sternly. “ I know you too well to put faith in you. Pool! Do you suppose that I really permitted you to draw lots as to which of you should oomo to Naples. I did ; but took excellent c ire as to who should be the winner. I told 3-ou once before that people who quarrelled with mo generally came to grief. Let me find any treachery on your part, and though you will think yourself heyoud my reach you will find yourself mistaken.” “Count Patroceni,” replied Hammerton, hastily, “I toll you lam honestly keeping faith with you. You feel you can insult mo with impunity, while you liold tho lives of those dear to mo in the hollow of your baud. Once lot them bo Free and you will give mo tho reparation one gentleman usually accords another.” Now this was a pretty defiance as it stood, but it had a palpable blot iu it. Tho Count’s reply was obvious. His lips curled as ho said, “ Due is under no obligation to go out with card-sharpers.” Hammerton sprang to his feet, and for a moment seemed to throw himself upon Patroconi, Quick as lightning the Count drew a poiguard from his vest. “ Stand back,” he said authoritatively, “ unless you would die before your time. Like Wheldrake, I have a presentiment, and that is that you will fall by my baud ; at present remember you are an ambassador, and that your person like lhat of all ambassadors, is sacred. Bring your negotiations to a conclusion, and then it will be time enough to talk about reparation ; though, even then, I should require security that you did not come to the ground attached by a posse of gendarmes.” For a moment Hammerton’s frame literally shook with passion. Then, recognising how completely he was in this man’s power, he gulped down his wrath with a tremendous effort, ‘-You have come to Naples,” lie said, at last, in tones that still vibrated slightly from auger, “apparently to insult me. You are too strong—l am at your mercy now; put the time will come ” “An excellent burst of melodrama, my friend, interposed Patroceni, contemptuously. “Exit, upper entrance, right, soouling and muttering. As I told you before, when the time does come I have auidea it will be unfortunate for you. At present I think I have no more to say, except this, I thall scud an envoy in to see you this day week, when, I trust, you will bo able to bring things to a satisfactory conclusion. Had you and Wheldrake not interferrod with my engagements, I should have been content to receive the ransom close to Naples. Now you must bring tho money to the camp, and you must bring it in person. Wheldrake I could have trusted ; rightly or wrongly, I distrust you, aud your own life must be security for my want of faith in you. The agreed sum once paid, and the whole party shall be conducted in perfect safety to the scene of their capture. There carriages will be awaiting to convey you to Naples, aud one and all, including yourself, need fear no further molestation uulessyou provoke it.” And with these words the Count picked up his pack and departed. Hammerton paced the room for some time after his visitor left him. He ground his teeth with impotent rage at the indignities ho had been forced to submit to. What evil star had ever lead him to cross this man’s path iu life? Everything had gone wrong with him ever since the encounter with Patroconi. He did not reflect that it was his own unfair play at the cavdtable that had placed him in the Count’s power, that it was his own rascally scheme to ruin Wheldrake which

had led to their all coming abroad, and so fall into the hands of the brigands. That the Count carried too many guns for him Hammcrton was now fully aware. He was in the toils of a very superior scoundrel to himself; in tiie hands of a man of keen brain and iron nerve. Ho recognised it was futile to struggle against Ins antagonist, and, as his wrath quieted down, that tbe best thing he could do, this matter of the ransom once satisfactorily arranged was to leave Italy and devoutly hope that Patroceni might never cross his path again—a man, there was good hope, that might find Ids " career of industry” cut short before long. Brigand chiefs of bis calibre sooner or later fell victims to tbe prices offered for their apprehension and though Patroconi’s ascendancy over his followers was marvellous and their awe of him apparently immcasurenble, still greed of gold would probably ere long induce one of bis followers to betray him. If tbe annals of history afford numerous instances of wondrous fidelity in spite of all temptations, oases are also rife in which a heavy reward has not failed to produce the traitor it was designed to. And then, once again, Hammerton grimly reverted to the incredible fool ho had been to continue his intimacy with Patroceni. After coming to terras with him, and disgorging his winnings at the Homburg, he ought to have loft without beat of drum. But no. Lured by the insane idea that in iVhcldrako ho had snared a pigeon worth plucking he lingered on, and an introduction to English society had been the price of the Count’s silence about his malpractices at the card table. (Tu be ConlimieiL)