The Guerilla Chief Part 32

"Aw! ma.s.sr! don't joke dis ole n.i.g.g.a. You know you hadn't time to get down dar; you'd scarce time to get to the mouf ob de 'Hio."

"The mouth of the Ohio?"

"Ya, ma.s.sr! You know de _Belle_ didn't start till near night; an' how could you a got dar? Golly, ma.s.sr! hope dar's nuffin wrong? wha' did you leave missa and Ma'aselle 'Lympe?"

"Where did I leave your mistress and Mademoiselle Olympe! I have not seen either of them, since I last saw you, Pluto."

"O Gorramighty! ma.s.sr Looey, how you _do_ run dis ole n.i.g.g.a, 'case he half blind. Hyaw! hyaw! hyaw!"

"Half crazed, rather, Pluto, I should fancy!"

"Craze, ma.s.sr? law ma.s.sr, no. But do tell, Ma.s.sr Looey, whar be de ma'm an' ma'aselle?"

"That is just the question I have to put to you. Where are they?"

"Lor, ma.s.sr, how can I tell. Didn't I drive you all 'board de boat yes'day noon, and sure ma.s.sr, I han't seed none ob you since den?"

"Drive us aboard the boat! drive who?"

"Why you, ma.s.sr, an' Missa Dardonville, and Ma'aselle 'Lympe."

"Of what boat are you speaking?"

"De big boat for Cincinatti--da _Ma.s.sonry Belle_, dey calls her."

De Hauteroche turned towards me with a look expressive of stupified wonder.

"What!" he gasped out, "what can this fellow mean?"

"Answer me, Pluto," said I, addressing myself to the domestic, "you say you drove your mistress and Mademoiselle to the boat--the _Missouri Belle_?"

"Ya, ma.s.sr, dat for sarting."

"And did they embark in her?"

"Sarting, ma.s.sr, I seed um go off afore I leff de waff."

"A gentleman accompanied them?"

"Ob coos, Ma.s.sr Hoteroche 'companied dem."

"Who said it was Monsieur De Hauteroche?"

"Ebbery body say so; but law, ma.s.sr, dis chile aint blind. I see Ma.s.sr Looey ma'seff; an' sure he wa' stayin' at de house for more 'n a week.

You's only a playin' possum wi' de ole n.i.g.g.a? dat's what you are a doin'."

"Another word, Pluto! Did Madame tell you where she was going?"

"No, ma.s.sr, not adzactly tell me, but I knows whar, for all dat. Hyaw, hyaw, hyaw!" and the darkie displayed his ivories in a broad grin, while a knowing look was exhibited in the corners of his great eyes.

"Where was it?" I asked, without heeding his ludicrous humour.

"Gorry, ma.s.sr; p'raps Ma.s.sr Looey, he no let me tell?" and the black turned an inquisitive look towards De Hauteroche.

"It is just what I desire you to do. For Heaven's sake, man, do not delay! This is most mysterious."

"Berry queer! Well, Ma.s.sr Looey, since you's no objection, I tell dis gemman and Missy Adele; but I thort dey know'd all 'bout it a'ready. Ob coorse we brak folk only knows what we've heerd. It may be true, an' it mayent, for all dat."

"Out with it, man!"

"Well, de folks all say dat Ma'aselle 'Lympe she go be marry to young Ma.s.sr Looey; and dat dey all go de way to France to have de knot tied-- all de way to France! hyaw! hyaw!"

"To France?"

"Yes, ma.s.sr. De say young ma.s.sr--hyaw--he have rich uncle dar--he die-- he leave all to Ma.s.sr Looey--hope him true Ma.s.sr Looey--dat young ma.s.sr he go to get de money, and den he marry Ma'aselle 'Lympe, and den dey all come back hyar."

"And who has said all this?"

"Law, ma.s.sr, ebbery body know 'im--ebbery body say so. 'Sides, I hear Ma.s.sr Gardette, de banker, tell one gemman, day I drove ma.s.sr to de bank. Golly, de big cheque missa did draw out dat berry day! She say 'twar for trabbelin 'spenses. Dar wa dollars 'nuf to a trabbled 'em all ober de world. But say, Ma.s.sr Looey, why hab you come back? Sure missa an' Ma'aselle 'Lympe are safe? Hope dar's nuffin wrong, ma.s.sr?"

De Hauteroche appeared stupified with amazement--absolutely petrified.

Pluto might as well have addressed his inquiries to a stone.

To question the negro further would have been idle. Indeed, I was already in possession of sufficient data to determine the outlines of this mysterious affair--if not to make known the whole of its details.

I was now convinced that a horrid crime was being committed--a base deception practised--of which Madame Dardonville and her daughter were the dupes and victims. In all likelihood, some one was personating Luis De Hauteroche; and, under this guise--and by some pretence about a legacy, as report declared--had induced Madame Dardonville to leave her home and make a journey to France! This part of the story might be true or not; but certain it was that the ladies had gone away in the company of some one who was personating Luis de Hauteroche. Whither they were gone, and with what intent, I could not determine; but I had little doubt as to who was their companion and betrayer: it was the _sportsman_, Despard.

I did not communicate my thoughts to either of my companions. I could see no object in doing so. Their hour of misery would arrive soon enough. I thought it better they should suffer an hour of mystery.

I knew that Monsieur Gardette was a friend of Madame Dardonville--a family friend, as such men are termed. It was probable, therefore, he could throw light on the matter. He had cashed a large cheque, it appeared, and must know something of the object for which it was drawn.

Moreover, the affair of the lost bill of exchange was to be inquired after. Both objects could be accomplished at the same time.

I proposed, therefore, that we should at once proceed to the banking-house of Monsieur Gardette. My companions, overcome with astonishment, yielded unresistingly to my proposal, and, giving the Jehu the necessary orders, we were driven back in the direction of the city.

Half an hour brought us to the banking-house, where the horses were pulled up. Adele sat in the carriage and her brother, acting under my advice, remained with her. I thought it better I should see Monsieur Gardette alone. Not yet had the time arrived, when it was necessary De Hauteroche should know the full extent of his loss.

Story 2, Chapter XVI.

MONSIEUR GARDETTE.

I had the good fortune to find Monsieur Gardette in his counting-house.

He knew me; and our interview proceeded without embarra.s.sment.

I shall not weary my reader with the conversation that pa.s.sed between us; nor yet detail all the circ.u.mstances that came to my knowledge during that interview. Suffice it to give only those more immediately connected with the thread of my narrative; and which of themselves were sufficient to confirm my most fearful suspicion.

Some one like De Hauteroche--resembling him almost as a counterpart--had a.s.sumed his name; had deceived Madame Dardonville as to the ident.i.ty; and by an influence, as yet only guessed at, had persuaded herself and daughter to take the extraordinary step of accompanying him to Europe!

All this might easily have been effected. There was no improbability in it, when it is remembered that it was some years since De Hauteroche had been seen either by mother or daughter.

Another circ.u.mstance, which I now recollected, strengthened the probability of their having gone on this journey. I remembered Madame Dardonville having told me that she contemplated a journey to Europe, at some not distant period--that she was desirous of visiting the home of her youth, and renewing some ancient friendships. Moreover, she had stated her intention of residing some time in Paris, in order that in the world's fashionable metropolis, she might obtain for her daughter the finishing touch of a polite education.