A Mysterious Disappearance Part 31

Finally, why did he select that particular portion of the Thames banks for the bestowal of his terrible burden?

Many other minor features suggested themselves for careful attention, but the barrister knew that if he elucidated some of the major questions the rest would answer themselves.

The last query promised to yield a good crop of information should it be satisfactorily dealt with. Turning to his notes, he found that the former owner of the Putney house was a tutor or preparatory schoolmaster, named the Rev. Septimus Childe.

Could it be that this was the school in which both Sir Charles d.y.k.e and Mensmore were fellow-students? If so, Bruce failed to see why he should not forthwith place the whole of the facts in his possession at the service of the police, and allow the law to take its course.

On this supposition, the case against Mensmore was very black; not, indeed, incapable of explanation--for circ.u.mstantial evidence occasionally plays strange pranks with logic--but of such a grave nature that no private individual would be justified in keeping his knowledge to himself.

The deduction was intensely disagreeable; but Bruce resolved to coerce his thoughts, and do that which was right, irrespective of consequences.

He did not possess a Clergy List. No letter came from Mrs. Hillmer, so he walked across the Park to his club in Pall Mall to consult the appropriately bound black and white volume which gives reference to the many degrees of the Church of England.

Septimus Childe was a distinctive, though simple, name. And it was not there. There was not a Childe with a final "e" in the whole book.

Without that important letter, as his informant might be mistaken, there were several. Close scrutiny of each man's designation and duties convinced him that though any of these might be one of the particular Childe's children, none answered to the description of the gentleman he sought.

Of course, he could always apply to Sir Charles d.y.k.e, but he dreaded approaching the grief-stricken baronet on this matter. Now there was no help for it. The barrister was beginning to feel impatient at the constant difficulties which barred progress in each direction. After all, it was a small thing merely to ask his friend if he ever knew a reverend gentleman named Childe.

Bruce was sure that Sir Charles would not be acquainted with Mr. Childe, and also with the fact that the Putney house had served as his school, for it would be strange beyond credence if it were so that he had not mentioned it.

The weather was still clear and cold, and a wintry sun made walking pleasant. Claude, on quitting his club, set out again on foot. He crossed St. James's Square, Jermyn Street, and Piccadilly, and made his way to Oxford Street up New Bond Street.

Not often did he frequent these fashionable thoroughfares, and he had an excellent reason. When walking, he was given to abstraction, and seldom saw his acquaintances if he encountered them in unusual quarters. He would thus cut dead a woman at whose house he had dined the previous evening, or, when he was in practice at the Bar, fail to notice the salutation of his own leader.

To Claude himself this short-coming was intolerable; consciousness of it when in the West made him the most alert man in the crowd to note anybody whom he knew, except on the rare occasions when he forgot his failing.

This morning Bond Street was pleasantly full. People were beginning to return to town. Parliament re-a.s.sembled in a few days, and he pa.s.sed many who were on his visiting list.

Outside a well-known costumer's he saw a brougham, into which a lady had just been a.s.sisted by the commissionaire.

It is no uncommon thing to recognize an acquaintance by the color of his horse, or the peculiar cut of the coachman's whiskers. This time Bruce knew the driver as well as the equipage, but the lady was not Mrs.

Hillmer.

Instantly he was at the door, with his hat lifted; he a.s.sumed an expression of polite regret as he saw Dobson, the maid, in her mistress's place.

"Sorry," he said, "I knew the carriage, and thought that Mrs. Hillmer was inside. She is well, I trust."

"Not very, sir," answered the maid with an angry pout.

"Indeed, what is the matter?"

"Madame is going away, and has put us all on board wages."

Dobson had some of the privileges of a companion, and resented this relegation to the servants' hall.

"Going away?" cried Bruce. "A sudden departure, eh?"

The girl was arranging some parcels on the seat in front of her. She was not disinclined for a conversation with this good-looking gentleman, so she smiled archly, as she said: "Didn't you know, sir? I thought you would know all about it."

What he might have ascertained by a longer chat the barrister could not tell, for an interruption occurred. The coachman was more loyal to his mistress than the maid.

"Beg pardon, sir," he cried, "but the missus told us to hurry"; and he whipped his steed into the pa.s.sing stream of carriages.

"More complications," murmured Claude. "Mrs. Hillmer contemplates a bolt. Shall I pay her another visit and surprise her? No, confound it, I will not. Let her go, and let things take their course."

Not in the most amiable frame of mind at this discovery, he pursued his walk to Portman Square.

Sir Charles d.y.k.e was at home. He always was, now.

"For goodness' sake, Mr. Bruce," whispered Thompson in the hall, "try to persuade Sir Charles to quit smokin', and readin', and thinkin'. He sits all day in the library and 'ardly has anything to eat."

Claude reproached himself for having neglected his resolution to stir his friend into something like animation. He was wondering what he should do in the matter, when the baronet rose at his entrance, saying, with a weary smile:

"Well, old fellow, what news?"

The other suddenly decided to throw all questioning to the winds for the moment. "I have come to bring you out. I won't hear of a refusal. Let us walk to the club and have lunch and a game of billiards."

Sir Charles protested. He had slept badly and was tired.

"All the more reason that you should sleep well to-night. Come, now, be advised. You will allow yourself to become a hopeless invalid if you go on in this way."

d.y.k.e unwillingly consented, and they left the house. The older man brightened up considerably amidst the bustle of the streets. His color returned, he talked with some degree of cheerfulness, and even laughed as he said:

"I never understood you were a doctor, Claude, in addition to your other varied acquirements. For the first time since--since November last, I feel hungry."

"Why don't you take my advice, and go away for some shooting? It is not too late, even now, to go after a hare."

"I will think of it. I wonder who we shall meet at the club."

"Lots of fellows, no doubt. And, by the way, you must be prepared for one little difficulty. Suppose they ask about your wife?"

The baronet's momentary gaiety vanished. He stopped short, and clutched Bruce's arm. "Don't you see," he almost moaned, "that this is the reason I have remained indoors for so long? What shall I say?"

"You must make the best of it. Say, off-handedly, you don't know where she is--either with relations or in Italy. Anything will do, and it will create a false impression."

"I am sick of false impressions. I cannot do it."

"You must."

The stronger will prevailed, and they entered the doors of the Imperial, where, of course, d.y.k.e was hailed at once by a dozen men.

"Hallo, Charlie! Been seedy?"

"Good gracious, d.y.k.e! have you had influenza? I've missed you for months, now I come to think of it."

"I haven't seen your wife for quite a time. How is she?"

In the mult.i.tude of questions there was safety.