The Dust of Conflict Part 23

Appleby's face showed almost haggard, and he smiled wearily.

"It is evident that if we have much more of this kind of thing I shall earn my salary, though the Sin Verguenza will apparently get most of it," he said.

XV - TONY'S LAST OPPORTUNITY

THE sun shone pleasantly warm, and a soft wind sighed among the branches, when Violet Wayne pulled up her ponies where the shadows of the firs fell athwart the winding road that dipped to Northrop valley.

There had been a shower, and a sweet resinous fragrance came out of the dusky wood. G.o.dfrey Palliser, who sat by the girl's side, however, shivered a little, and b.u.t.toned the big fur-trimmed coat that lay loose about him, which did not escape his companion's attention.

"Shall we drive out into the sun?" she asked.

"No," said the man, "I think I should be just as chilly, and the view from here pleases me. It is scarcely likely that I shall see it very often again."

Violet Wayne shook her head reproachfully as she glanced at him, though she felt that the prediction might be verified, for G.o.dfrey Palliser had never been a strong man in any respect, and though he sat stiffly upright he looked very worn and frail just then. The pallor of his face also struck a little chill through her, for her pulses throbbed with the vigor of youth, and all the green world about her seemed to speak of life and hope. Yet there was a gravity in her eyes, which suggested that the shadow of care also rested upon her.

"That is not the spirit to hasten one's recovery, and you have been ever so much better lately," she said.

There was a curious wistfulness in G.o.dfrey Palliser's smile, and he laid a thin hand upon her arm. "I should like a little longer respite, if it was only to see you Tony's wife," he said. "Then I should know that what I had striven for so long would be worthily accomplished. Still, since my last illness I have other warnings than those the eminent specialist gave me, and I do not know at what hour the summons may come."

At the mention of Tony the shadow deepened for a moment in the girl's face, for it seemed to her there was a meaning behind what the old man had said which chimed with the misgivings that had troubled her of late.

Still, she was loyal, and would not admit it even to herself.

"Tony would have made you a worthy successor in any case," she said.

G.o.dfrey Palliser smiled curiously. "Tony has many likable qualities, but he is weak," he said. "That, my dear is one reason I am glad that he is going to marry you, for it is a burden I shall, I think very shortly, bequeath him. You will help him to lighten it, as well as bear it honorably."

"There are, as you know, women in this country who would not consider it a burden," said the girl.

G.o.dfrey Palliser stretched out his hand and pointed to the vista of sunlit valley which, framed by the dark fir branches, opened up before them. Green beech wood, springing wheat, and rich meadow rolled away into the blue distance under a sky of softest azure, with the river flashing in the midst of them. Across the valley, under its sheltering hill-slope the gray front of Northrop Hall showed through embowering trees, and the tower of a little time-worn church rose in the foreground. It was this, Violet Wayne noticed, the old man's eyes rested longest on.

"It will all be yours and Tony's from this bank of the river as far as the beech woods where Sir George's land breaks in, and it is a burden I have found heavy enough these thirty years," he said. "The debt was almost crushing when it came to me, and rents were going down, while one can look for very little from agricultural property. I did what I could, and thanks to the years of economy the load is a little lighter now; but once I betrayed the trust reposed in me, and failed in my duty."

Violet Wayne could not quite hide her astonishment, for no shadow of reproach had ever touched the punctilious G.o.dfrey Palliser. He smiled when he saw the incredulity in her eyes.

"It is quite true, and yet the temptation to deceive myself was almost irresistible," he said. "For thirty years I had lived at Northrop with the good will of my tenants and my neighbors' esteem, and if that counted for too much with me it was because I felt I held the honor of the name in trust to be pa.s.sed on unblemished to you and Tony, and those who would come after you. That was why I yielded, and it is only because you will be Tony's wife I make confession now."

"You are cold," said the girl hastily. "We will drive out into the sunshine."

G.o.dfrey Palliser nodded, but he turned to her again as the ponies went slowly down the hill. "It is necessary that you should listen, because the man may live to trouble you," he said. "It never became apparent who killed Davidson-for killed he was-but Tony and I knew, though I strove to convince myself the man I should have exposed might be innocent.

Bernard Appleby would not have escaped to America if I had done my duty.

Had the warrant been signed when it should have been St.i.tt would have arrested him."

"You cannot believe that Bernard Appleby was guilty!"

"I am sure, my dear. I would not admit it, but I knew it then-and still, perhaps, I had excuses. The man was of my own blood, and I had meant, when he had proved his right to it, to do something for him. Tony is generous, and would not have grudged what I purposed to spare for him.

It was a crushing blow, and left me scarcely capable of thinking, while before I quite realized it the thing was done, and I had become an accessory to the escape of a criminal."

He stopped, gasped a little, for he had spoken with a curious intensity of expression; but the girl looked at him steadily.

"Still," she said quietly, "I am not convinced yet."

"No? It is quite plain to me that it could only have been him or Tony, and the latter suggestion is preposterous."

"Yes," said the girl, who shivered a little, though the sun was warm.

"Of course it is! Still, I cannot believe that the culprit was Bernard Appleby."

Palliser smiled faintly. "One could envy you your charity, my dear, but I have a charge to lay on you. That man may come back-and Tony would temporize. You, however, will show him no mercy. Not one penny of the Northrop rents must be touched by him-and now we will talk of something pleasanter."

Violet Wayne shook the reins, and made an effort; but the old man appeared exhausted, and she was glad that he evinced no great interest in her conversation. What he had told her had left its sting, for she had already been almost driven to the decision he had come to. Appleby, she felt,-why she did not exactly know, though the belief was unshakable,-could not have done the horrible thing, and all the love and loyalty she possessed revolted against the suggestion that Tony was guilty. Yet the brightness seemed to have gone out of the sunlight, and the vista of wood and meadow lost its charm while the shadow deepened in her face as they drove down into the valley.

Her mother was waiting on the terrace when they reached Northrop Hall, and when Palliser had gone into the house leaning on a man's shoulder she looked at the girl curiously.

"You are a trifle pale, Violet," she said. "Of course, it is almost a duty, and he seems more tranquil in your company; but I have fancied lately that you spend too much time with G.o.dfrey Palliser. He seems unusually feeble."

"I do not think he is as well to-day," said the girl.

"He has sent for lawyer Craythorne," said her mother thoughtfully.

"Well, you must shake off any morbid fancies he may have infected you with. You have Tony to consider, and he has been moody lately. I scarcely like to mention it, my dear, but I wonder if you have noticed that he is not quite so abstemious as he was a little while ago."

A flush of crimson crept into the girl's cheek, and once more the little chill struck through her, but she met the elder lady's eyes.

"I think you must be mistaken, mother," she said.

She turned and went into the house, but Mrs. Wayne sighed as she walked thoughtfully up and down the terrace, for she had noticed more than she had mentioned, and had fancies that were not pleasant to her. She had borne much sorrow in her time with a high courage, but she was anxious that afternoon, for it seemed to her that there might be a grim reality behind those fancies.

G.o.dfrey Palliser insisted on dining with his guests that evening, which he had seldom done since his illness, and his four companions, among whom was the lawyer who had done his business for thirty years, long remembered that meal. Their host was dressed with his usual precision, and sat stiffly erect, as though disdaining the support the high-backed chair that had been brought him might afford, but the sombre garments emphasized the pallor of his face, until, as the glow of the sinking sun streamed in through the colored lights above the western window, a ruddy gleam fell upon it. In that forced brilliancy its hollowness and fragility became more apparent, and it was almost a relief to those who sat at meat with him when the hall grew shadowy. He ate very little, and scarcely spoke to any one but Violet, though his voice was curiously gentle when he did so; and when he sat silent his eyes would rest on her and Tony with a little contented smile.

Though they did what they could to hide it, there was a constraint upon the party which the very servants seemed to feel, for Tony fancied they were more swift and noiseless in their movements than usual. He also noticed the curious look in one man's eyes when, though the light was scarcely fading outside, G.o.dfrey Palliser signed to him.

"Bring lights. I cannot see," he said.

The lights were brought, naked wax candles in great silver holders, and their pale gleam flung back from gla.s.s and silver had a curious effect in the lingering daylight. There was silence for awhile, and Tony was grateful to Mrs. Wayne, who broke it tactfully; but the vague uneasiness remained, and more than one of those who saw the strained expression in his eyes wondered whether it was the last time G.o.dfrey Palliser would dine in state at Northrop Hall. n.o.body was sorry when Mrs. Wayne rose, but Palliser smiled at his nephew when Violet went out of the room with her.

"You will spare me a few minutes, Tony. I have something to ask you," he said. "We need have no diffidence in speaking before Mr. Craythorne."

The elderly lawyer bent his head, and Tony felt uneasy. "I shall be glad to tell you anything I can, sir," he said.

"It is rather your opinion than information I want," said Palliser.

"Some time ago you tried to convince me of Bernard's innocence, while to-day Violet persisted that she could not believe him guilty-even when I pointed out that so far as I could see the culprit was either you or he. Are you still as sure Bernard was not the man responsible for Davidson's death as you were then? I am not asking without a purpose, and the fact that we are honored with Craythorne's company will show you that I consider it necessary to set my house in order. It may be yours very soon now, Tony."

His low, even voice jarred upon one listener, and Tony spoke no more than the truth when he broke out, "I hope you will hold it a good many years yet, sir!"

"Yes," said Palliser, with a little smile, which something in his eyes redeemed from being coldly formal, "I believe you though I scarcely think it likely. Still, you have not answered my question."

"My opinion is not worth much, sir."