King of the Castle Part 70

But common sense would step in then, and remind him that everything would be locked up now, perhaps sealed, and that Gartram's arrangements were secure enough to set even burglars at defiance. No; it must be by fair play. He must lose no more time, but go to the Fort, and quietly show Claude that he was waiting, and contrive to make her confide in him--let him help her, so that he might gradually strengthen his position.

"And it wants no strengthening," he said angrily; "it was her father's wish, and we are betrothed."

Then a fit of trembling a.s.sailed him, and he shrank from going up to the place, where it would seem as if Gartram were standing at the entrance, stern and forbidding, to keep him back.

He flew to brandy again, to steady his shaking nerves.

"No," he gasped, as he drained his gla.s.s; "I can't do it. I'm bad enough, but I can't go and court the daughter after--"

"Curse you, be quiet!" he cried, smiting himself across the mouth. "Do you want to blab to everybody the story of the accident?"

He seized the binocular again to watch the way up to the Fort, in jealous dread lest Chris Lisle should go up there; but, though he was constantly watching, and often saw Chris go out from his lodgings, it was mostly with his rod upon his shoulder, and in the other direction-- toward the bridge and the glen.

And so the days glided by, till one morning, as he sat watching, longing to go up to the Fort, but putting off his visit till time had made him more confident and firm, he suddenly caught sight of a figure--the tall, st.u.r.dy figure of a man--going up to the entrance-gate.

Glyddyr was all excitement on the instant. A stranger--a well-dressed man--going up there! What could it mean?

He hardly left the little porthole through which he watched that day, but was constantly directing his gla.s.ses at the grey building.

Towards afternoon he saw the tall man come out from the study window, and begin walking up and down with his hands behind his back; then he stopped in a corner sheltered from the wind, and directly after there came a faint film of blue smoke rising, and Glyddyr looked on as the stranger walked to and fro.

"One of the old man's best cigars, I'll be bound," muttered Glyddyr, laying down the gla.s.s, and biting his nails. "Who can he be?"

Ten minutes after, as Glyddyr sat there, gla.s.s in hand, he saw two figures in black come out of the front entrance, and go along the terrace a little way, to stand watching the sea.

He had it all there in miniature within the double circle of those gla.s.ses: Claude and Mary Dillon; and he could almost make out the expression upon the two pale countenances, till they moved slowly away and joined the tall gentleman who was walking up and down, and for the next hour they were in his company, ending by going in together, and the terrace was blank.

"A visitor--seems to be young--on familiar terms. There is no brother; I never heard of a cousin. Who can it be?"

Glyddyr gnawed his moustache, for here was a fresh complication. He could see no other reason for a visitor to be at Gartram's house than as a fortune-hunter in search of Claude's hand. This, then, was a new danger--from a man who was openly received there, and seemed quite at home. So that, while he was watching for the dangers of an a.s.sault upon the Fort by Chris Lisle, another had entered and taken possession.

"While I, like a cursed coward, have hung about, not daring to renew my suit."

"Guv'nor aboard?"

Glyddyr had heard no splash of oars, nor the light jar of a boat touching his yacht side, but that voice made him start to his feet, and stand grinding his teeth.

"All right, I'll go down."

The next minute he was face to face with Gellow, dressed in a jaunty-looking yachting suit, and smoking a very strong cigar.

"Well, Guvnor," he said, with an unpleasant grin, as he looked Glyddyr in the face, "there's my hand if you like to take it; if you don't, you can leave it alone, for it's all the same to me. We parted huffy and short, and I'll own up I was going to be very nasty. You kicked out, and it made me feel it. I was going to bite, Glyddyr, but I said to myself: 'No; we've been good friends, and I won't round upon him now.'"

"Why have you come down?"

"Now, come, don't talk like that to a man who wants to help you. Come down to see you, of course."

"For money--to badger me for payment of some of your cursed bills."

"Oh, Glyddyr, my dear boy, what a fellow you are! No; I forgive you your nastiness, and I haven't come down for money--there."

"Then why have you come?"

"Two reasons."

"Well?"

"To see how you were getting on."

"That's only one."

"To have a chat with you about a certain lady."

Glyddyr winced, and Gellow noticed it, but made no sign.

"We'll talk that over after a bit. But how are you getting on over yonder?"

Glyddyr made an impatient gesture.

"Your digestion's wrong, dear boy--that's what's the matter with you.

But I congratulate you."

"Con--what?"

"Gratulate you, dear boy. Of course, I saw all about that poor old chap dying of a drop too much."

Glyddyr shivered.

"But it's a grand thing for you. Easy for you to go and hang up your hat behind the door of as nice a bit of property as I ever saw. Pretty young wife, and your yacht, and a racehorse or two: you'll be able to do that. By George, you're a lucky man."

Glyddyr drew a long breath, and Gellow threw himself on the padded seat.

"Might as well have shaken hands," he said; "but, bah! it's only form.

Very sad about the old chap, but a grand stroke of fate for you. I'm glad you've stopped on here. Very wise: because, of course, there's sure to be a shoal of poor relatives wanting to nibble the cake--your cake--our cake, eh?"

"So that's why you've come down?"

"Yes. Been sooner, but a certain lady has taken up a lot of my time.

You didn't want her here now. I've plenty of time, though. I knew you were on the spot, and that nothing would be done till the old gentleman had been put away quietly, and the lady had time to order the mourning.

Oh, I say, Glyddyr! you'll excuse me, but--"

"But what, man?"

"Don't be so snaggy to a man who is helping you. But what bad form."

"I don't understand you."

"Look at yourself in the gla.s.s. Promised wife in deep mourning, and you in blue serge and a red tie. Why, you ought to be as solemn looking as an undertaker."