The Mynns' Mystery Part 9

"I told you I had, didn't I? Am I to show them to you?"

"Stop," cried Gertrude quietly.

"Eh? Stop!" cried Saul fiercely. "How do we know that this is not an impostor?"

"A what," roared the young man fiercely.

"Stop, if you please," said Gertrude. "Mr Saul Harrington is only a visitor here, Mr George, and has no right to make such a demand of you."

"Mind what you are saying," cried Saul angrily.

"I am minding what I am saying, sir. You have no right to ask such questions."

"What? Not in your behalf?"

"No, sir," interposed their visitor sharply, as he took his cue from Gertrude; "no right at all."

"I was not speaking to you," said Saul roughly; and the two men stood glowering at each other, Saul having rather the best of it, till Gertrude spoke hastily, in dread of a quarrel:

"If there is any need for Mr George Harrington to prove his ident.i.ty, it should be to Mr Hampton and Doctor Lawrence."

"Who are they?" said the young man sharply.

"My dear guardians," replied Gertrude.

"Seems rather a strange thing," said the young man, giving Gertrude a reproachful look, and then metaphorically setting up his hackles as he turned defiantly upon Saul, "that I come back to England, at my grandfather's invitation, to my own place, and find some one, who has no right, beginning to dictate to me as to what I am to do."

"I don't know about dictating," said Saul, who grew more calm as the stranger became excited; "but you don't suppose, sir, that I, as my uncle's representative, am going to stand by and let a perfect stranger enter upon the place, and take possession. What proof have I that you are George Harrington?"

"Proof? Didn't I send up my card?"

"Card!" cried Saul contemptuously.

"Oh, if that isn't enough I can give you plenty more proofs," cried the young man quickly.

"Stop, Mr George Harrington," said Gertrude, warmly espousing his cause. "Mr Saul Harrington a.s.sumes too much. I am my guardian's representative at The Mynns till his grandson comes and takes possession. I decline, then, to let you be treated in this uncalled-for way."

"Thank you, my dear, thank you," cried the young fellow sharply. "Now, Mr Saul Harrington, what have you got to say to that?"

"Gertrude, you'll repent this," cried Saul, whose jealous rage and disappointment swept away the calm manner he had a.s.sumed.

"Perhaps so. But if she does, I suppose it's no business of yours, sir.

He has no right to bully you, has he, my dear?"

Gertrude flinched a little at this over-friendly, familiar way; but she thought to herself that George Harrington had led a rough life out in the West, and it was well meant. She could not help leaning, too, towards the man who had, she felt, a right to champion her, and he had come now to protect her and defend her against one whom now she literally loathed.

She replied then eagerly:

"None whatever, Mr George. This is your home, too, and he has no right to interfere upon your taking possession."

She held out her hand to him, and looked him frankly in the eyes, as she said quickly:

"I'm very glad you have come."

"Thank ye, my dear, thank ye. I'm rather rough, but you must not mind that. Been hunting, and gold-digging, and living in camp. Soon rub off the corners. It's very nice and kind of you to speak so well as you have."

He took the hand she held out, drew it through his arm, and kept it in quiet possession, as he turned with an insolent look of triumph upon Saul.

"Now, Mr What's-your-name, do you live here?"

"No," said Saul sharply, and he returned the other's defiant look, and felt hard pressed to keep back his jealous rage as he saw Gertrude rest calmly, with her hand in that of the new-comer. "No--not yet," he added to himself.

"Well, then, my dear sir, as I do--in future--and as I have come a very long journey, and am tired and hungry, and want to talk to miss here, perhaps you'll be good enough to take your hat and get out."

Saul's eyes flashed, and his cheeks became of an uglier pallor, as he listened to this speech, which bore a strong resemblance to that of one of the late Mr Chucks, the boatswain, of "Peter Simple" fame. For it was all refinement at the beginning, and wandered off into argot that was the very reverse.

"I am not accustomed to be ordered out of this house, sir," said Saul in a low voice, full of suppressed rage; "and I refuse to go until I have seen your credentials."

"What!"

"And I'm not going to be bullied," said Saul. "Your cowboy manners don't frighten me; and if it wasn't for the lady here, whom, in spite of her preference for an utter stranger, I am bound to protect, I'd just take you and show you how to behave in an English house."

"Would you, sir? Then look here. Out in the West, from where I came, we have no policemen and magistrates at every corner, ready to do all our dirty work. We do it ourselves, and carry with us all that is ready and necessary for the job."

He advanced menacingly towards Saul; and as he took his first step, his hand dropped Gertrude's, and he put it behind him.

"George Harrington! For Heaven's sake?"

"Yes, yes, of course," he cried laughingly, taking her hand, laying it upon his arm, and stroking it gently. "I forgot. He riled me, and I felt as if I was back among the roughs out yonder. There, I don't want to quarrel, Mr Saul Harrington. I suppose we are uncles and cousins or something of the kind. Shake hands, and let's have a gla.s.s of something to show we are not bad friends. I suppose there is something in the house--eh, my dear?"

"Yes, but--"

"Look here, sir," cried Saul, ignoring the proffered hand, "I am not frightened by your Yankee, bullying ways, and I tell you what it is--"

Saul Harrington did not tell the new-comer what it was, for the door opened, and Doctor Lawrence came in hastily.

"What's the matter?" he cried. "Some one ill?"

"Yes, old gentleman," said the stranger banteringly. "This chap--Mr Saul Harrington I think he calls himself--has got a fit."

Doctor Lawrence gazed sharply at the speaker, and then placed his gla.s.ses upon his nose, as Gertrude withdrew her arm and hurriedly crossed to the doctor's side.

"Yes, sir," cried Saul fiercely, "a fit of indignation. I refused to--"

"Oh, look here, let's have an end of this. I don't know who you are, old gentleman."

"My name is Lawrence."

"Well, then, Mr Lawrence--Oh, I know; you are my grandfather's executor."