The Mynns' Mystery Part 39

"More so, sir, than you imagine."

"Well, pray tell me what to do. Here have I come to claim my heritage and my--I beg pardon," he said quickly, with an admiring look at Gertrude, "my wife and my heritage, and the lady does not so much as shake hands with me."

Gertrude, in spite of herself, gave him an apologetic look.

"And you treat me as if I were a scoundrel."

"I am compelled to look upon your claim, sir, with suspicion."

"Well, sir, you are a lawyer; perhaps you will let me retain your services on my behalf."

"Certainly not, sir. You are attacking, I am for the defence."

"Very well then, sir, I must get another advocate, I suppose, and oust you from your position."

He paused for a few moments, and looked fixedly at Gertrude, and his gaze intensified, not in boldness, but in respectful ardour, as he slowly rose, and, with a sigh of satisfaction, held out his hand to her.

"Gertrude Bellwood," he said, "I am a rough man; I have lived a wild pioneering life where, for the most part, I have rarely seen woman, but I inherited from my sweet, dear mother's teaching a feeling of veneration for her, as one whom it is our duty to look upon with chivalrous respect. Frankly, I came here to-night, ready to claim the property my grandfather has bequeathed me, and to set the lady he wished me to wed quite free to follow her own bent. I feel it is my duty to do this, but I shall wait a while; meantime, I venture to think that you do not look upon me as an impostor. I am George Harrington, and though I now offer you my hand, it is only for the first friendly clasp. You will shake hands with me?"

Gertrude's eyes were fixed on his, and held there as if fascinated. She did not speak, but looked at him wildly. But at last slowly, and in the midst of an utter silence, she said faintly:

"I don't know what to think--you do not know. Mr Hampton, why do you not explain?"

Then gathering strength and firmness, she raised her hand and placed it in the firm, strong palm which closed upon it with a pressure that was painful, though it sent a thrill of pleasure through her, such as she had never felt before.

"No," she said; "no one who was an impostor could look and speak like this."

"G.o.d bless you, my darling!" he cried warmly, as the tears started to his eyes; "and none but a true, sweet woman would have spoken like this."

"Stop!" said the old lawyer, coming between them, and holding them apart. "You have, sir, to make your pretensions good. Mr George Harrington is here in England, has claimed his own, and is this young lady's betrothed."

"What? Then where is he? Bring us face to face."

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

A THRILLING NARRATIVE.

"Oh, this is absurd!" cried the new-comer as soon as he had recovered somewhat from his surprise. "I am George Harrington. What does it mean--some subterfuge on your part, sir, to make me take fresh steps to prove my ident.i.ty? If so, pray speak out."

The lawyer made a deprecatory movement.

"I beg your pardon, ladies, for speaking out so abruptly, but it was a natural feeling of indignation."

"It is quite excusable, sir, and this is no subterfuge."

"But in Heaven's name give me some explanation."

"My dear Gertrude, Mrs Hampton," said the lawyer with dignity, "perhaps it would be better for you to leave us. This gentleman and I will discuss the matter together."

Gertrude looked at him almost resentfully, and then there was quite an air of sympathy in her manner, as she turned to their visitor, who said gravely:

"Yes, Miss Bellwood, I quite agree with this gentleman, it would, perhaps, be better that we should discuss the question alone. Indeed, till I have proved that I am no impostor, I am no fit company for ladies."

He crossed to the door, held it open, and bowed gravely, as without a word they pa.s.sed out, and then as soon as they were gone, he turned fiercely upon the old man.

"Now, sir, if you please, I am waiting for an explanation," he said in a low, angry voice.

"Yet," said Mr Hampton, throwing himself back in his chair, thrusting up his gla.s.ses, and fixing his calm, cold eyes upon the visitor as he continued, "I do not grant that you have any right, sir, to demand this explanation. Your position should be that, if you consider you have a just claim, you should instruct a solicitor, and he would place himself in communication with me."

"Hang all solicitors, sir!" cried the young man angrily, and his eyes seemed to flash with indignation.

The old man made a gesture.

"I beg your pardon, Mr Hampton. I believe you said you were a solicitor," he added quickly.

"Go on, sir; I am not offended. On the contrary I rather like your display of anger. It makes me feel that you may be honest instead of an extremely clever pretender."

"Honest, sir! Good Heavens! Put yourself in my place. Now, between man and man what does this mean?"

"Simply what I have told you; but sit down, sir. This is a question for calm consideration, and you are walking up and down like--"

"A wild beast in a cage. Yes, I know it; but who can be calm at a time like this? Pray excuse me and go on."

"I have very little to tell you, sir. Perhaps, as the solicitor of the party in possession, I ought to make no admissions. I can merely tell you that nearly four months ago Mr George Harrington came over from America with indubitable proofs of his ident.i.ty, and, as soon as the proper legal forms could be gone though, took possession."

"Nearly four months ago? Here, stop a moment, sir. Was he a man about my height?"

"Yes."

"Rather darker?"

The old lawyer bowed, and scrutinised the speaker carefully.

"He had a quick, sharp way of speaking, and a habit of looking behind him as if in search of danger."

"Exactly. You are describing Mr George Harrington most carefully."

"The villain! The hound! And I thought it was for robbery only. Well, one knows how to treat a man like that when we meet."

He showed his regular white teeth, as his brow puckered up, and there was a look of fierce determination in his eyes as startling as his next act, which was to slip his hand behind him, and draw a small heavy-looking revolver from his pocket. This he examined quickly as he tried the lock.

"Put that away, sir," cried Mr Hampton sternly. "You are not in the Far West now but in civilised England. Give me that pistol instantly."

The young man handed the weapon without a moment's hesitation.

"I beg your pardon, Mr Hampton," he said. "Temper, got the better of me."