The Mynns' Mystery Part 22

"That enough?" he said.

"Well, no--little drop more."

Saul tilted a half wine-gla.s.s more into the tumbler before proceeding to open a bottle of soda-water, and pretending to be too intent to note that the convalescent took a goodly sip of the raw spirit in the gla.s.s.

"There," said Saul, as the cork he set free flew out with a loud and he trickled the effervescent water into the tumbler, "that ought to do you good, old fellow."

"It will," said his companion, taking a deep draught with the more enjoyment because it was forbidden.

"And if you like to alter your mind, and invest that money--two thousand--I'll still see that you have the chance, in spite of your sneers."

"Ah, just you be bad as I have been, Saul, my lad, and perhaps you'll be snaggy and sneery. By George! that seems to send life through your veins. What did you say the company was?"

"Company be hanged! Am I the sort of fellow to persuade a man to invest in some visionary company with dividends _in futuro_? Solid mercantile affair, as you can find out for yourself in the city."

"Ah, well, we'll see about it. Pa.s.s that decanter."

Saul pushed the little cut-gla.s.s vessel across the table, and the convalescent was in the act of taking it, when a hand was laid upon his and held it fast.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

FOR GERTRUDE'S SAKE.

"Beg pardon, Miss Gertrude, could I speak to you for a minute?"

"You will excuse me a moment, Mrs Hampton?"

"Oh, of course, my dear. Don't stand upon ceremony with me."

Gertrude rose with an anxious expression of countenance, and followed the old housekeeper from the room.

"Is anything the matter, Denton?"

"No, my dear, only that Master George rang for the spirits, and I've taken 'em down the garden where they're sitting under the big cedar."

"They?"

"Yes, my dear, Mr Saul's there. He saw him in the garden, I s'pose, and didn't come up to the house. And I thought, perhaps, a word from you might keep him out of temptation, my dear; for them spirits do tempt him."

"Yes, yes, I'll go, Denton," said Gertrude quickly; and she hurried down the garden, her steps inaudible on the closely shorn lawn, and came round behind the bushes in time to lay her hand upon that of the would-be suicide.

"What the dev--"

"George, dear."

"Oh, it's you, Gertie. Well, what's the matter?"

"Mr Saul Harrington," said the girl, flushing, as she turned upon the visitor, "have you forgotten Doctor Lawrence's words?"

"I? Oh, no," said Saul uneasily, "but doctors exaggerate, and dear George here is all the better for a refreshing draught."

"It is not true," she retorted angrily. "George, dear, indeed, indeed it is not good for you."

"Nonsense, my darling," he cried, drawing her to him so that she stood close to his chair, and he placed his arm about her waist. "You are too particular. Here, just a little more."

"No, no," said Gertrude fiercely. "You are so much better now. Don't, don't! for my sake, don't?"

"Hang it! I want only one gla.s.s," he began angrily, with his brow growing knotty with a network of veins. "Don't be so confoundedly--"

"George, dear, for my sake," she whispered.

The change was magical.

"Ah, well, then, I will not, pet. But it would not have hurt me."

Saul Harrington's countenance was a study during this colloquy; his face grew more sallow, and a peculiar nervous twitching set in about the corners of his eyes. At one time he seemed to be suffering intense agony, but by an effort he preserved his calmness, and a faint, sardonic smile played about his lips, as his companion a.s.sumed the manner of one betrothed toward Gertrude, but those lips looked white all the same.

"Don't--for my sake, don't," he said to himself, unconsciously repeating the girl's words. "It makes me feel half mad."

"All right," said the convalescent. "I'll take care, then, Gertie. Do you hear, Saul? Spirit except in h.o.m.oeopathic doses is tabooed, so tempt me not."

"I tempt you," said Saul, laughing merrily, but with the vocal chords horribly out of tune; "I like that. My dear Gertrude, here is a man from the States, who has been in the habit of taking whiskey as we take milk; he has been leading me into all kinds of excesses, playing Mephistopheles to me till I have had hard work to keep out of trouble, and then he turns upon me and says, 'tempt me not.'"

"Don't talk about it, please," said Gertrude imploringly.

"Not I, you happy pair," said Saul, rising, and again laughing unpleasantly as he took up his gla.s.s.

"Here's a speedy and a happy union to you both."

He drained his gla.s.s, and set it down in silence, as Gertrude's face crimsoned, and then grew pale, while the master of The Mynns frowned.

"Isn't that what you English people call bad taste?" he said sourly.

"Surely not, my dear boy. I am only Cousin Saul, and have a right to banter a little. There, I'm off back to town."

"I thought you were going to stay and have a hand at cards, and I want to have a game at billiards on the new table."

"Cards, billiards? For shame, man, when the lovely Thais sits beside you. Why don't you take the good the G.o.ds provide you?"

"Eh? What do you mean. Hang it all, don't begin quoting poetry to a fellow. What does he mean, Gertie? Oh, I see. Very good. But that's all right. She and I understand one another, and we shall have plenty of time to court after we're married. Eh, Gertie?"

"I must go back to Mrs Hampton now," said Gertrude gravely.

"Hang Mrs Hampton! How glad I shall be to see her back. But don't tell her, Gertie."

She gave him a sad look, and bent down to whisper: