Blind Policy Part 44

"The executive has done its work," said James Clareborough, sharply, "while you two stood behind a door and listened."

Chester felt a spasm run through Marion as these words were spoken.

"Well, well," said the old man; "you two are young and strong, and have steady hands. I do not wish to hang back from anything for ensuring the safety and prosperity of all. Robert, my boy, my muscles are not what they were; I shall be obliged to ask you to help me."

Another spasm ran through Marion, and Chester, as they stood there in the darkness, felt her crane forward as if to hear her brother's answer.

It came on the instant, in sharp, fierce tones,--"No, uncle. I wash my hands of it all. I cannot help what has pa.s.sed, and I will be silent for the benefit of all, but help further in this--no, I would sooner die!"

"What!" cried James Clareborough, savagely. "Curse you, then, die, and rid us of our miserable clog. Look here, all of you--I will not stand by and let him sneak out of the business in this cursed cowardly way.

You, Rob--you have got to help the old man over this, or--"

"Or what?" cried Rob, as fiercely. Marion made a movement as if to rush to her brother's help, but Chester tightened his grasp.

"My dear Jem! My dear Rob! for Heaven's sake!" cried the professor, interposing.

"You hold your tongue, old man," cried James Clareborough, springing up; "I've had enough of this. For a year past now I've had to put up with his cursed objections, and hanging back from nearly everything, like the coward he is, and I'll have no more of it. Paddy and I have done our bit of work to save the family from utter ruin and destruction, and now he is asked to help you in necessary work he begins to ride the high horse and dictate. I say he shall help you, and at once, or, if I hang for it, I'll make him."

"You make me, you cowardly, treacherous beast!" cried Robert, fiercely.

"I defy you to. You two know that our quarrel has not been on account of my shrinking from the work. I always hated it, but I have still done my part. Why did he fire at me that night but because I struck him down for his cowardly, brutal insults to my poor sister, whose honour ought to have been sacred and the object of his defence?"

"You miserable hound!" growled James Clareborough. "Go with the old man at once, or you sha'n't live another day!"

"Go yourself, beast, and keep your hand from that pistol, or I'll fire, I swear!"

The utter silence in the room after these words were spoken was broken by the sharp clicking of two pistols, and half stunned for the moment, as he listened for the reports, Chester, recalling what must have happened on the night when he was first called in, threw himself before Marion to screen her from any bullet which might come there.

The act necessitated the loosening of his grasp, and with a wild cry Marion sprang from him, to rush in the direction of her brother's voice.

"The door!" shouted the professor, and it was banged to and bolted by Dennis, as the old man sprang to his side, touched the stud, and the room was suffused with the soft electric light, showing the two adversaries, not a couple of yards apart, and Marion clinging to her brother's arm, Chester just behind.

James Clareborough burst into a yell of mocking laughter.

"Picture--tableau--curtain!" he roared. "End of Act the Second, gentlemen. Loud cries for author and heroine. A success--a success!

Marion, my charming, sweet, chaste, innocent cousin, I congratulate you.

Beautifully done. Doctor, I salute you. Brave, honourable, n.o.ble, frank, winner of the heroine's love--what a happy combination of gallantry and business! I presume that, vulture-like, you scented carrion, and came for another job; but sweet, innocent Marion here was premature. Marion, beloved one; caught here in the dark! Oh, fie!"

"Curse you! hold your mocking tongue!" cried Robert, fiercely. "You, Chester, how came you here?"

"Ha-ha-ha!" cried James Clareborough, "what a question! Our sweet Marion."

"Hound! Speak of my sister in that way again, and I'll fire."

"Bah!" retorted his cousin, contemptuously, and, without heeding him, he turned to Chester, covered him with his pistol, and in a low, fierce growl bade him sit down in the nearest chair.

Chester did not stir.

"Once more, you meddling idiot, sit down!" cried James Clareborough, menacingly, and Marion sprang from her brother's side to stand between them.

"Very well, I can wait. Now, all of you, our plans are known. Like a set of idiots, we have sat smoking and babbling before this fool, who could not be content with his last visit, but must intrude again, play the spy, and suffer for his knowledge. Uncle--Dennis, my lad, you agree with me?"

No one spoke, but the three others stood gazing fiercely at the interloper.

"Now, Rob," continued James Clareborough, "our quarrels can keep. Act the man. You see how we stand--you know what is at stake for all. Dr Chester, you are our prisoner again. Now--quick!"

Pistol in hand, he took a step forward, the others following his example, and Chester sprang towards the fireplace to seize the poker, while Marion tried to throw herself between him and his enemies.

The efforts of both were in vain. The professor baulked the brave woman's effort. He swung her lightly towards the window and joined the others, who, in spite of a brave struggle, easily mastered Chester and got him down, after they had swayed here and there close by the locked door.

"Now," said James Clareborough, pistol in hand, as Dennis knelt upon the prostrate man's chest, Robert and the professor each holding an arm.

"You will lie still, doctor, or you will force me to prescribe. You see that the situation is critical--Ha! Marion! Come away!"

He pointed his weapon at the window, but Marion did not stir. She had sprung to it while they were occupied with their prisoner, swung open the heavy shutters, and the window had yielded silently, leaving the room open to the street. Then she had reached out, holding on by the lower bar of the sash, but turned her head to look back.

"Now," she cried wildly, "fire if you dare! Fred Chester! Here. Rob, help him, for my sake. Ah! keep back, or I shriek for the police."

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

"SAUVE QUI PEUT."

Marion, in her desperation, thoroughly now at bay and fierce in her reckless determination to save her lover's life, uttered her warning words to James Clareborough, who had been stealing round the table to spring at her.

"What's the matter, ma'am?" cried a gruff voice at the area railings, and Marion turned to see, to her horror, the st.u.r.dy figure of a helmeted constable. "Fight? Pistols? All right." A piercing whistle rang out, and the man signalled with his arm, while the pa.s.sers-by began to stop and collect.

"Curse her! she has done it," cried James Clareborough, savagely, and he was in the act of taking aim at the trembling woman, when the pistol was struck up by Robert.

"All right," said the scoundrel, without resenting the act, and thrusting the pistol into his pocket. "The game's up, gentlemen--sauve qui peut."

Robert had pa.s.sed him by this time, caught his sister's hand, and meeting with no resistance, he drew her from the window, shut and fastened it, and closed the shutters again, just as a loud peal was heard at the door bell.

The next minute Chester was at her side, the library door unlocked, and his other a.s.sailants gone.

"He's right," said Robert, hoa.r.s.ely; "the game is up, Marion, and it is sauve qui peut."

"You villain!" cried Chester, excitedly.

"That will do, doctor," said Robert, coolly. "She's fainting; help me to get her away. Poor old girl! she loved me," he continued, kissing his sister's ghastly face, "and she did it to save you, not to hand me over to the police. One moment. Hold her; I'll be back directly."

Chester caught the half-fainting burden willingly, and glanced after the young man as he darted from the room.

"Gone," muttered Chester. "Marion, look up, love; we are safe. They have escaped."

"Now then," cried Robert Clareborough, returning; "I have slipped the bolts, and it will take them an hour to break in. Come!"

"Come! Where?" cried Chester angrily.