Of High Descent Part 114

He nodded his head, and without another word swept the jewels into his pocket, and made towards the door. As he laid his hand upon the lock he turned sharply and came back.

"I'm like a curse to you, Louie," he said, kissing her; "but I'm going to try, and you shall guide me now."

She clung to him for a few moments, and then loosened her grasp.

"I shall be ready when you come back," she said. "We can pay these people, and it will be like breathing afresh to get away."

"Yes," he said. "But Pradelle?"

"Is our enemy, Harry. Your evil genius."

"No, no; he has been very kind."

"For his own ends. There, go."

He went off without a word; and after making the few trifling preparations necessary, Louise put on her hat and cloak, and waited impatiently for her brother's return. An hour pa.s.sed, which seemed like two, and then the blood mounted to her pale cheek, and she crossed towards the door ready to admit her brother, for there was a step upon the stair. She glanced round to see if she had forgotten anything, but there was nothing to do, save to pay the landlady, and then they would be free. She threw open the door as the step paused on the landing, and then she ran back with her lips apart, and a look of repugnance and dread in her eyes.

"Mr Pradelle!"

"Yes, Miss Louie, me it is, and you don't look best pleased to see me."

As she fell back he entered and closed the door.

"My brother is out, Mr Pradelle."

He nodded, and stood smiling at her.

"You can leave any message you wish for him."

"And go? Exactly. Hah! I should like to make you think differently of me, Miss Louie. You know I always loved--"

"Mr Pradelle, I am alone here, and this visit is an intrusion."

"Intrusion? Ah, how hard you do keep on me; but I'm patient as a man can be. What a welcome to one who has come to serve you! I am only your brother's messenger, Miss Louie. He has been and done that business."

"You know?"

"Of course I know. Harry is not so hard upon me as you are. I have seen him, and he sent me on here with a cab. He wants you to join him."

"To join him?"

"Yes, at the station. He says it is not safe to come back here, and you are to join him at the waiting-room."

"He sent that message by you?"

"Yes. It's all nonsense, of course, for I think he has not so much cause to be alarmed. There is a risk, but he magnifies it. You are ready, so let's go on at once."

"Why did not my brother return? There is the landlady to pay."

"He has commissioned me to do that. I am going to see you both off, and if you'll only say a kind word to me, Miss Louie, I don't know but what I'll come with you."

"Did my brother send that message to me, Mr Pradelle?" said Louise, looking at him fixedly.

"Yes, and the cab's waiting at the door."

"It is not true," said Louise firmly.

"What?"

"I say, sir, it is not true. After what has pa.s.sed between us this morning, my brother would not send such a message by you."

"Well, if ever man had cause to be hurt I have," cried Pradelle. "Why, you'll tell me next that he didn't go out to p.a.w.n some of your jewels."

Louise hesitated.

"There, you see, I am right. He has taken quite a scare, and daren't come back. Perhaps you won't believe that. There, come along; we're wasting time."

"It is not true."

"How can you be so foolish! I tell you I was to bring you along, and you must come now. Hush! don't talk, but come."

He caught her hand and drew it through his arm so suddenly that, hesitating between faith and doubt, she made no resistance; and, ready to blame herself now for her want of trust, she was accompanying him towards the door when it was opened quickly, and their way was blocked by Leslie and Uncle Luke.

Pradelle uttered an angry e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, and Louise shrank back speechless, her eyes dilated, her lips apart, and a bewildering sense of confusion robbing her of the power of speech, as she realised to the full her position in the sight of those who had sought her out.

"Then he was right, Leslie," said Uncle Luke slowly, as he looked from his niece to Pradelle, and back.

"Uncle!" she cried in agony, "what are you thinking?"

"That you are my niece--a woman," said the old man coldly; "and that this is Mr Pradelle."

"Uncle, dear uncle, let me explain," cried Louise wildly, as she shivered at the look of contempt cast upon her by Leslie.

"The situation needs no explanation," said Uncle Luke coldly.

"Not a bit," said Pradelle with a half laugh. "Well, gentlemen, what do you want? This lady is under my protection. Please to let us pa.s.s."

"Yes," said Uncle Luke in the same coldly sarcastic tone of voice, "you can pa.s.s, but, in spite of everything, the lady stays with me."

"No, sir, she goes with me," said Pradelle in a bl.u.s.tering tone. "Come on," he whispered, "for Harry's sake."

"No," said Uncle Luke. "I think we will spare her the pain of seeing you arrested. Mr Pradelle, the police are on the stairs."

Volume 3, Chapter XVIII.

THE DOG BITES.

Pradelle started back as if he had been stung.