Chapter IV.

Otago Witness, Issue 2026, 22 December 1892, Page 12

Chapter IV.

Midnight, When we two parted In silbnceand tears, Half broken hearted To sever for years. —Byron. About a week after the funeral Mordauut was sitting in the library his face buried in hU hands.. The table was strewn with papers and writing materials. Suddenly he lifted his head, there was a set determined look about his mouth, and his face was white and haggard. "It i 3 the 6nly thing I can do," he said to himself in a hoarse whisper, " I never will allow the trees to go as long as I live." He walked to the window and looked oat. The library was at the front of the house, and thid window commanded a perfect view of the park^ and garden. " Dear old tree 3," Mordaunt went on, speaking to himself, "that generations of Lamonds have looked upon.' I know Godfrey will let me have Lsoo,and I don'fc think father would have minded borrowing if he had known I had bten offered such a large sum for my picture. Good heavens 1 think oE a Lamond ever to have come tj thR" He went back to the table, and taking up a pen wrote a letter to his friend in Lond. n asking him for a loan. Having finished writing he sealed the letter up, and then wrote to the firm that had refused to wait for payment saying in a few word 3 that the required sum would follow shortly. Before he had stopped writing James threw open the door of the library and announced Sir Philip Jccelyn. Mordaunt hastily rose from the tatte and threw a piece of blotting paper over his unfinished letter, but not before Sir Philips Bharp eyes had noticed the movement. " Good morning, Lamond," he said cheerfully " I came over to know if you and 'Miss Curtis would' care to jjln the riding party next week, as I shall be mos 1 ; happy to Ut you have the use of my horses. "Tbank you," replied Mordaunfc; "I aro afraid I shall be too busy, but I daresay m; cousin would ba very happy to go. I wi> 1 ask her." As soon as the door was closed behind hi» back Sir Philip Jocelyn sprang out of hia chair, and raising the blotting paper read MerdauDt's letter to the firm right through. " 01), ho ! " he though*, "so you are hard pressed I Expect to pay in a day or two I Indeed ! I wonder where, you will get it from my friend. That is only an excuse to gain time." He put the blotting paper back, and glancing over the table caught sight of Mordaunt's cheque book. " You always were a careless fellow, Mordaunt," be said, " but it is very convenient for me just now that you are. 1 ' So saying, and without a moment's hesitation, he tore ©ut a blank cheque and placed it in his pocket-book. He was sitting in hia chair before the fire when Mordaunt reentered, looking the picture of an Erg'ith gentleman. ( " I am afraid I have been a long time, said the young squire apologetically, " but my cousin was out In the paik. She Is very

grateful to you, but says she would rather be excused. lam sorry you have been put to unnecessary trouble." "Ohl it was no trouble. I have been very glad to Bee you." He stayed a few minutes longer chatting pleasantly, and then took his leave. Mordaunt put all his papers away and laid the two letters on the hall table to be taken to the post. Entering a large room that went by the name of the studio he devoted himstlf to his beloved painting for the rest of the morning. Guarda came in to call him to dinner.

" Mordaunt," she said, " mother and I have come to the conclusion that we must spend the remainder of the winter abroad. Oh." she went on, " fancy visiting Rome and Switzerland 1 It has been the dream of my life."

Mordaunt looked up almo. t jealously. " Then you must promise me, dear," he said, " that we shall be married as soon as you are in England again."

And Guarda did not say him nay.

The followiDg week was passed by the inmates of Larnond Abbey as the precading one had re2U, quietly and uneventfully. One fine afternoon Unarda was standing beside a small lake in the park feeding some swans with bread. Sue was just thinkiDg of turning homewards when the saw thd figure of a man coming towards her. She recrgoised him irjfctantly as Sir Pbilip Jocelyn. " At last I have found you," he said, comirg forward and tßking her band. His face was white, and his hands were trembling visibly. " Something has happened," said Guards, keeping her self-possession. " Ob/how can I teU you," he gasped. " Pray compose yourself, Sir Philip," said Guarda, quietly, though her heart was beating violet tly. " If I could only have stopped It," he went od, as if epeakicg to himself, "but the matter is in the hands of the police." Guarda felt sick with fright, womanlike she had a horror of anything connected with law and police. "Pray explain yourself, Sir Philip, I am entirely adrift," she said, sharply. ' " Miss Curtis, I had a letter from my banker this morning," began the baronet, with an effoit. "He had a cheque sent in to him by a well known firm in Lendo», purporting to be •signed by me. Noticing something uDuaual about the signature— for he knew my writing well —he telegraphed to mo to know whether ull was right. Miss Curtis, I never signed that cheque." Sir Philip stopped and wiped bis forehead.

" Well," said Guarda, " who was It signed by 1 Some person must have forged yonr oame."

" I said before," went on Sir Philip, " that the cheque was sent to the bankj>y a firm in London. Inquiries were made, and — Miss Curtis— can you not guess ? "_ 11 1 must be very stupid, but I am afraid rou must tell me who did the dreadful deed," Guarda answered. " The cheque was sent into the firm by— by Mordaunt L-imond." Sir Philip stammered he words out. Guarda faced him, her eyes blazing. "Sir Philip Jocelyn," she said in her haughtiest tones, " how dare you come to me with such a story ?" "I am very sorry to hurt your feelings, but I must speak frankly, for the police will be here very shortly." " What will it matter if they are ? lam not afraid of a policomarj, and neither is my cousin ." Guarda threw back her head as Bhe spoke. " If I could only have stopped it a few hundreds would have been nothing to me, bub they pub the matter into the hands of the police bofore I could do anything." Sir Pbilip spoke in a distressed tone. " Pray do not worry about it, J< said Guarda. "0! course it was no fault of yours. Good-bye, and thank you for your kindness."

EnteriDg tbe house she found Mordaunt in the studio. A mist gathered before her eyes for an instant, but when she spoke her voice was perfectly steady. •^Lrdauut," she said, "something has happened." Moidaunt left his seat acd came towards her, " What is it, dear ? " he asked quietly. •• Sir Philip Jocelyn has just been here," Gnarda answered, "and, oh, Mordaunr, he says you have forged his name, and that the police will be here very soon." " What," ciiod Mordaunt hotly, " forged his name 7 He muse me mad to say such a thing." "Will they take you to gaol?" asked Guarda.

"Perhapp, dear, for a little while. We murt hear more aboutit first. But you must be brave, my darling, and help me to fight it out," Mordannt answered.

" I will, I will, and God will not allow you to be punished for another's crime." A few niiuutes later a constable dismounted at the hal door of Lamond Abbey. Mordaunt and Guarda came out cf the studio. Mrs Curtis emerged from the drawing,spom, and the tcrvante trooped into the ball to know what the unwelcome visitor wanted. " Is Mr Mordauct Lamond at horce? " The jcurg squire stepped forward. "If you hsve business with me kicdly come tbis way," he said, throwing open the door of tbe library. The policeman briefly related his errand. "So you sec, eir, I have to arrest you on tbe charge of forgery," he ended. "I understand," said Mordaunt. "Now, I should like to know where that cheque came from ! "

" You bad belter look in your own cheque bock," replied the constable dryly. " What is the number?" asked Mordaunt sharply. Tfce cjnslaVe told him, and he turned to his de^k. An exclamation cf dismay passed his lips as he turned over the pages. The cheque bearing thut number had vacished.