Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 30

"You are right, Jack. I didn't till the day before yesterday."

"The day before yesterday? What do you mean?"

"Simply that I, too, have had an adventure."

"Seems to me that we're like those confounded nuisances who used to meet on a coach and tell stories to amuse themselves. Go on; it's your turn now."

"Mine's soon told. After you started for Hurst Leigh I got a letter from a man at Wermesley----"

"Wermesley!" exclaimed Jack. "Why----"

"Yes, it is on the same line. He wanted me to go down to look over some deeds, and I went. I took a return ticket and got into the last train.

When I got into the carriage--I went 'first' on the strength of the business--I saw a young lady--mind, a young lady--seated in a corner. It struck me as rather odd that a young girl should be traveling alone at this time of night, and I shifted about until I could get a good look at her. Jack, you're not the only man that has seen a beautiful girl within the last week."

"Beautiful, eh?" cried Jack, interested.

"Beautiful in my eyes. The sort of face that Cleopatra might have had when she was that girl's age. I never saw such eyes, and I had plenty of opportunity of seeing them, for she seemed quite unconscious of my presence. Jack, I'm a shy man, and I'm often sorry for it, but I was never sorrier than I was then, for I'd have given anything to have been able to speak to her and hear her speak. There she sat, looking like a picture, quite motionless, with her eyes fixed on the flare of the lamp; and there I sat and couldn't pluck up courage to say a word. At last we got to London; they came for the tickets, and she couldn't find hers. I went down on my hands and knees, and at last I found the ticket under the seat. I looked at it as I gave it to the porter; and where do you think it was from?"

Jack shook his head. He didn't think it much of an adventure after Una and Warden Forest.

"You'll never guess. What do you say to Hurst Leigh?"

"Hurst Leigh! Why, who was she? Somebody I know, perhaps."

"I found my tongue at last, and said, 'You have had a long journey.

Hurst Leigh is a beautiful place.' And what do you think she said?"

Jack shook his head.

"She said, 'I don't know. I have never been there before today.' That's all until we got to the terminus, then I asked her if I could get her luggage. 'I haven't any,' she said. 'Could I get her a cab?' I asked.

Yes, I might get her a cab. I went and found a cab and put her in it; and, if I had a shadow of a doubt as to her being a lady, the way in which she thanked me would have dispelled it. I asked her where I should direct the cabman to drive, and she said 24 Cheltenham Terrace. And--and then she went."

"Well?"

"Well, I--of course you'll call me a fool, Jack, I am quite aware of that--I followed in another cab."

"Good heavens! You've been drinking!"

"No. I followed, and when she had gone I knocked at the door of the next house and asked the name of the people who lived next door. They--for a wonder--were civil, and told me. She lives with her grandfather, and her name is Laura Treherne."

CHAPTER XVI.

"Her name is Laura Treherne," said Leonard.

"Laura Treherne. Never heard the name before."

"Nor I, but it belongs to the most beautiful creature I have ever seen."

"That's because you haven't seen Una Rolfe," put in Jack, coolly. "But I say, Len, what has come to us? We've both caught the universal epidemic at the same time. It's nothing wonderful in me, you know--but you--_you_, who wouldn't look at a woman! Have you got it bad, Len?"

"Very bad, Jack. Yes, the time which Rosseau calls the supremest in one's life, has come to me. As a novice in the art of love-making, I come to you for advice."

"Why, it's easy enough in your case. You know where to put your hand upon the lady. What are you to do? Why, disguise yourself as a sweep, and go and sweep the chimneys at 24 Cheltenham Square, or pretend you're the tax collector, or 'come to look at the gas meter.' You've got half a dozen plans, but I--what am I to do? I've seen the most beautiful creature in existence, and if I'm not in love with her----"

"I should say you were," said Leonard, gently.

"Yes, I am. I knew it when I found that confounded cottage empty. But what am I to do? I haven't the faintest clew to her whereabouts. The old gentleman with the hatchet may have murdered his whole family--her included--or emigrated to Australia."

"It is very strange. Didn't you notice any sign of a move about the place the first night you were there?"

"No, none. Everything looked as if it had been going on for a hundred years--excepting Una--and meant to go on for another hundred. Len, I'm afraid we've been bewitched. Perhaps it's all a dream; I haven't been down to Hurst and you haven't been down to Wermesley. We shall wake up directly--oh, no! The poor squire! Len, it's all true, and we're a couple of young fools!"

"Speak for yourself, old fellow. I have been a fool until three days ago, now I am as wise as Solomon, for I have learned what love is."

"So have I--I have also learned the vanity of human wishes, and the next thing I shall have to learn will be some way of earning a livelihood. I should prefer an honest one, but--poor men can't afford to be particular, and honesty doesn't seem to pay now-a-days. I feel so hard up and reckless that I could become a bank director or a member of Parliament without feeling a pang of conscience."

Leonard looked up at him, for the vein of bitterness was plainly to be detected running through Jack's banter; and Leonard knew that when Jack was bitter--which was but once a year, say--he was reckless.

"We must talk it over. Sit down--get off that table; you're making a perfect hash of my papers--and let's talk it over. You won't go out tonight."

"Yes, I shall. I shall go down to the club."

"No, no, keep away from the club tonight, Jack."

"What are you afraid of? Do you think I shall want to gamble? I've no money to lose."

"That's the very reason you'll want to play. Do keep at home tonight."

"I couldn't do it, old man," he said. "I'm on wires--I'm all on fire. If I sat here much longer, I should get up suddenly, murder you, and sack the place. The Savage has got his paint on, and is on the trail."

"Don't be a fool, Jack. You are hot and upset. Keep away from the club tonight. Well, well--let the _ecarte_ alone, at any rate."

"All right, I'll promise you that. I won't touch a card tonight.

_Ecarte!_ I couldn't play beggar-my-neighbor tonight! Len, I wish you were a bigger man; I'd get up a row, and have a turn-to with you. Sit down here! I couldn't do it. I want to be doing something--something desperate. You can sit here and dream over your complaint; I can't--I should go mad! Don't sit up for me."

Leonard looked after him as he disappeared into one of the two bedrooms which adjoined the common sitting-room, and, with a shake of his head, muttered, "Poor Jack!" and returned to his work.

Jack took a cold bath, dressed himself, and merely pausing to shout a good-night, as he pa.s.sed down the stairs, went into the street, and jumped into a hansom, telling the man to drive to the Hawks' Club.

It was rather early for the "Hawks," and only a few of them had fluttered in. It was about the last club that such a man as Jack should have been a member of. It was fast, it was expensive, it was fashionable, and the chief reason for its existence lay in the fact that play at any time, and to any extent, could be obtained there.

When Jack entered the cardroom, that apartment was almost empty, but the suspicious-looking tables were surrounded by chairs stuck up on two legs, denoting that they were engaged, and those men who were present were all playing.

Every head was turned as he entered, and a buzz of greeting rose to welcome him.