A Duet, with an Occasional Chorus Part 30

'Capital!' cried Frank. So a clerk was sent across to the Hotspur office with a whole bundle of subpoenas, and served them liberally out. And in two days' time was the day of battle.

CHAPTER XV--A RESCUE

As the day fixed for the hearing drew near, Ruin lived with them by day and slept with them by night. Its dark shadow covered their lives, and they moved in the gloom of its presence. If the trial went against them, and Owen in his most hopeful moods did not disguise from them that it might, they would have to pay the double costs as well as the original claim. All that they possessed would not cover it. On the other hand, if they won, this rich Company might carry the matter to a higher Appeal Court, and so involve them in a fresh succession of anxieties and expenses. Do what they would, there was always danger. Frank said little, and he slept little also.

One night, just before the trial, Wingfield, the accountant of the Society, came down to Woking. He had managed the case all through for the directors. His visit was a sort of ultimatum.

'We are still ready to pay our own law-costs,' said he, 'if you will allow the original claim.'

'I can't do that,' said Frank doggedly.

'The costs are piling up at a furious rate, and some one will have to pay them.'

'I hope that it will be you.'

'Well, don't say afterwards that I did not warn you. My dear Crosse, I a.s.sure you that you are being misled, and that you have not really got a leg to stand upon.'

'That's what the trial is about,' said Frank.

He kept a bold face to the enemy, but after Wingfield's departure, Maude saw that his confidence was greatly shaken.

'He seemed very sure of their case,' said he. 'He would not speak like that if he did not know.'

But Maude took quite another view.

'If they know that they can recover their money in court, why should they send Mr. Wingfield down in this way.'

'He is such a good chap--he wants to save us expense.'

Maude was less trusting.

'He is doing the best for his own side,' said she. 'It is his duty, and we can't blame him. But if he thought it best to get behind his own lawyers and come down here, then he must have some doubts about going into court. Perhaps he would be willing to consider some compromise.'

But Frank only shook his head.

'We have drawn the cork, and we must drink the wine,' said he. 'We have gone too far to stop. Any compromise which they would accept would be as much out of our power to pay as the whole sum would be, and so we may just as well see it through.' But for once Maude did not take his opinion as final, but lay awake all night and thought it over. She had determined to begin acting upon her own account, and she was so eager to try what she could do that she lay longing for the morning to break. When she came down to breakfast, her plan of campaign was formed.

'I am coming up to town with you, Frank.'

'Delighted to hear it, dear.' When she had shopping to do, she frequently went up with him, so it did not surprise him. What would have surprised him was to know that she had despatched three telegrams, by means of Jemima, before he was up.

'To John Selby, 53 Fenchurch Street, E.C. Will call eleven o'clock.

Important business. - MAUDE.'

'To Lieutenant Selby, the Depot, Canterbury. Please come up next train, meet me Fenchurch Street, eleven thirty. Important. - MAUDE.'

'To Owen, 14 Shirley Lane, E.C. Will call twelve o'clock.

Important.--MRS. CROSSE.'

So she had opened her campaign.

'By the way, Frank,' said she, as they travelled up together, 'to- morrow is your birthday.'

'Yes, dear, it is,' he answered lugubriously.

'Dear me! What shall I give my boy for a birthday present? Nothing you particularly want?'

'I have all I want,' said he, looking at her.

'Oh, but I think I could find something. I must look round when I am in town.'

She began her looking round by a visit to her father in Fenchurch Street. It was something new for him to get telegrams from Maude upon business, and he was very much surprised.

'Looking remarkably well, my dear. Your appearance is a certificate of character to your husband. Well, and how is all at Woking? I hope the second cook proved to be a success.'

But Maude was not there for small talk. 'Dear dad,' said she, 'I want you to stand by me, for I am in trouble. Now, my dear good dad, please see things from my point of view, and don't make objections, and do exactly what I ask you.' She threw her arms round his neck and gave him a hearty squeeze.

'Now I call that exerting undue pressure,' said he, extricating his white head. 'If this sort of thing is allowed in the city of London, there is an end of all business.' However, his eyes twinkled and looked as if he liked it. 'Now madame, what can I do for you?'

'I'm going to be perfectly business-like,' said she, and gave him another squeeze before sitting down. 'Look here, dad. You give me an income of fifty pounds a year, don't you?'

'My dear girl, I can't raise it. Jack's expenses in the Hussars--'

'I don't want you to raise it.'

'What do you want?'

'I seem to remember, dad, that you told me that this fifty pounds was the interest on a thousand pounds which was invested for me.'

'So it is--five per cent. debentures.'

'Well, dad, if I were content with an income of twenty-five pounds a year instead of fifty pounds, then I could take five hundred pounds out of my money, and n.o.body would be the worse.'

'Except yourself.'

Maude laughed at that.

'I want the use of the money just for one day. I certainly won't need it all. I just want to feel that I have as much as that in case I need it. Now, my dear old daddy, do please not ask any questions, but be very nice and good, and tell me how I can get these five hundred pounds.'

'And you won't tell me why you want them?'

'I had rather not--but I will if you insist.'