The Red Window Part 26

"I am not hard-hearted," snapped Beryl. "I always do good--"

"When it is to your own benefit."

"Not always. For instance, I am down here to get a small boy a post with Miss Plantagenet as a page."

"That is very good of you," said Lucy, scornfully.

"Ah, you see I can do a kind action. This boy is a grandson of Lord Conniston's housekeeper, Mrs. Moon."

"At Cove Castle," said Lucy, with some color in her face. "I know."

"Do you know Lord Conniston?" asked Julius suspiciously.

"I have met him once. He seems to be a most delightful fellow."

"What a delightful speech for a lady," said Beryl. "Conniston is a scamp. I heard he enlisted in the Lancers."

"It shows how brave he is. Every man worth calling a man should go to the front."

"Perhaps you would like me to go," sneered Julius.

"You would never have the pluck," said Lucy, quickly. "All your ends in life are gained by cunning, not by bravery."

"Lucy, if you talk to me like that--" began Beryl, and then restrained himself with an effort. "It is no use our quarrelling. Let me show you that I am not so careless of others or so hard-hearted as I seem to be.

Miss Plantagenet wants a page. I found this lad in London selling matches. He was a messenger boy at a tobacconist called Taberley, and Lord Conniston got him turned out of the situation."

"I don't believe that."

"It is true. The boy told me himself. He will tell you if you like to see him."

"I don't want to see him. Lord Conniston is too kind a man to behave in that way. He was fond of Bernard."

"And that makes him perfect in your eyes," said Beryl, looking savage.

"See here, Lucy, Conniston has left the army--so you see he is not so brave as you think."

"He left so as to seek after Bernard," said Lucy, quickly. "Mr. Durham told me so."

"To seek after Bernard," said Julius, slowly, "and I believe Bernard may be alive after all."

"In which case you would give him up to the police."

"No," said Julius with an emotion which did him credit, "I should never betray him. Lucy, if you can find out from Lord Conniston or Durham that Bernard is alive, let me know and I'll see what I can do to help him."

"How can you help him when you believe him guilty?"

"I might help him to escape. I don't want to see him hanged."

"He won't be hanged if Lord Conniston and Mr. Durham can save him."

"Ah!" Julius started to his feet. "Then he is alive."

"I can't say. I have no reason to think he is. But I am hoping against hope," said Lucy, rising. "I merely state what was said. Mr. Durham and Lord Conniston both told Alice that Bernard was innocent."

"They will find it difficult to prove that," sneered Beryl, with a white face. "I believe the fellow is alive after all. If he is I'll make it my business to find out where he is."

"And then?" asked Lucy, starting up and facing Beryl.

"Then it depends upon Bernard himself."

"Ah! You would make him pay money to save himself."

"I have a right to a portion of the estate."

"You have not," said Miss Randolph, clenching her fists and all her languor gone. "Bernard is the owner of Gore Hall and of all the property, and of the t.i.tle also. If he is alive, as I sincerely hope, his name will be cleared."

"And then you will throw me over and try to become Lady Gore."

"I throw you over now," said Lucy, losing her temper and coloring hotly.

"How dare you speak to me like this, Julius! I will no longer be bound to you. I never loved you, but I have always tried to see the best side of you. But you have no good side. You are a mean, cowardly serpent, and if Bernard is alive I shall do my best to defend him from your snares."

"But Lucy--"

"Don't speak to me, and don't dare to call me again by that name. I give you back your ring--here it is!" She wrenched it from her finger. "Now leave the house, Mr. Beryl. I am mistress here."

Julius looked at the ring which she had thrown at his feet, and laughed.

"You take a high tone," he said sneeringly. "But remember that if Bernard is dead the money goes to charities--"

"So much the better. You do not get it."

"Nor you either. You will have to turn out of this luxurious home and live on the pittance Sir Simon left you."

"Would I be better off if I married you?"

"I think you would. I have not much money now, but I will have some--a great deal some day."

"By blackmailing Bernard," said Lucy, indignantly.

Julius picked up the ring and slipped it into his waistcoat pocket calmly. "We don't know that Bernard is alive. But the fact of Conniston leaving the army and from Durham's att.i.tude I shrewdly suspect he is, and in hiding. I shall find out where he is, and then it depends upon him whether he is hanged or prefers to live abroad on a portion of his money."

"The lesser portion. I know the price of your silence," said Lucy, vehemently. "You will want the Hall and a large income."

"All I can get," rejoined Beryl, quietly. "And you have refused to share my fortune with me."

"Yes. I will have nothing to do with you. And remember that if I catch you plotting I will tell Mr. Durham."

"You can tell him the whole of this conversation," snarled Beryl. "I am not afraid of Durham. If Bernard is alive, he'll have to pay up or be hanged."

"He is innocent."