King of the Castle Part 95

Brime had been despatched for Doctor Asher, but had come back with a message that the doctor had been taken ill, and could not leave his home, but they were not to be alarmed. It was only hysteria, he wrote, and all needed was quiet and rest.

Trevithick had betaken himself to the library, where he sat alone, waiting for tidings, and had at last taken his note-book from his pocket, as if inspired by the place, and began to run over the numbers of the missing notes.

"I can't go away till afternoon," he had said to himself; "and till I have had a quiet few minutes with Mary."

In the dining-room Glyddyr was now alone with Gellow, and there had been a scene.

"Look here," said the latter, after partaking heartily of the breakfast, "I'm not a man who boasts, and I suppose my principles, as people call 'em, are not of the best, but, 'pon my soul, Glyddyr, if I couldn't show up better after marrying a girl like that, I'd go and hang myself."

"Bah!"

"No, you don't; not a drop more," continued Gellow, laying his hand upon a bottle of champagne that Glyddyr was about to take. "You've had too much now. When I'm gone, you can do as you like. You're master here, but I won't sit and see you go on like this."

"It don't hurt me. I'm as sober as you are."

"P'r'aps so, now; but what will you be by-and-by? Hang it all, Glyd, you've got the girl, and the money, and you can pay me off. She's a little darling, that's what she is, and I'd turn over a fresh leaf-- clean the slate and begin square now, I would, 'pon my soul. Do you hear?"

"Yes, I hear."

"And now I think I'll go back to the hotel; you don't want me."

"Eh! What? No, no; don't go," said Glyddyr excitedly.

"Not go?"

"No, man, no; don't go and leave me here alone."

"Well, upon my soul, Glyddyr, you are a one."

"That fellow, Lisle. You saw him in the corner. He means mischief.

I'm sure he does."

"Let him. You're King of the Castle now. Keep him out. Don't be such a cur."

"He's half mad. I know he is. I don't want a scene. I should kill him if he came."

"Yes, you look as if you would."

"And I haven't done much for you yet. We shall want to talk business."

"What, on your wedding-day! Nonsense. I'll go back to the hotel."

"No, no. There is plenty of room in the place--for a friend. You must stop here for a few days."

"Oh, very well. Play policeman, eh, and keep t'other fellow off. I see your little game. Cheerful for me, though, all the same."

"Help me to get rid of that lawyer; I don't want him hanging about.-- Gellow."

"Well?"

"Why didn't I insist upon going over to Paris or Baden as soon as we were married?"

"How should I know? I suppose I may light a cigar now. Your wife won't object?"

"It was her doing," said Glyddyr thoughtfully. "She insisted on staying."

"No, you don't. If I'm to play policeman, no more drink, or very little, do you have to-day."

Gellow drew the bottle farther away again, and Glyddyr threw himself back in his chair and began gnawing his nails.

"Ugh!"

"What's the matter now?" said Gellow, as Glyddyr shuddered.

"I don't know. Somehow I don't like this place."

"Buy it off you, if you like. But, I say, hadn't you better ring and ask after your wife?"

About this time, as John Trevithick sat cogitating over his memoranda, seeking for the light where all was dark, the door opened, and Mary came in.

"Ah! How is she now?"

"Very ill. I have left her for a few minutes in the drawing-room with Sarah Woodham," said Mary, with a catching of the breath. "Oh, John, how cruel of Chris Lisle to come and do that."

"I don't know," said Trevithick thoughtfully. "I'm afraid I should have acted the same. But there: the mischief is done. I'm glad you've come.

I wanted to see you before I went."

"Before you went? Oh!" exclaimed Mary, catching at his hand, "you must not go."

"Not go? Oh, I'm not wanted here."

"You don't know," cried Mary excitedly. "Don't leave us, John. I'm frightened. It all seems so horrible. Suppose Chris Lisle were to come?"

"Chris Lisle would not be so mad."

"I don't know. I saw his face, poor fellow, and it looked dreadful, and I have just seen Mr Glyddyr. I went to the dining-room to see if you were there. He looks ghastly, and he has been drinking. For Claude's sake, pray stay."

"You do not know what you are saying, my dear," said the big lawyer gently. "Mr Glyddyr is master here now. But I'm afraid you are right.

He had been drinking before he came. I cannot interfere."

"Not to protect her?"

"No, I have no right."

"Then stop to protect me, John, dear," she whispered.

"The law gives me no right," he said slowly, "but if you put it in that way, why, hang the law!"