LAWYER BELL FROM BOSTON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 15, 18 January 1894, Page 6

LAWYER BELL FROM BOSTON.

'ST A CELEBRATED AUTHOR.

BOOK 111

THE MEETING IN THE CATACOMBS,

CHAPTER XXII.

LADY CLARADALE'S CONFESSION,

Thb altercation with the Spaniard is very annoying to Bel!, but he has the sympathy of the proprietor of the hotel, for the very excellent reason that the American, being at the faoad of a large party, is his best customer at present. He 13 an Italian who has spenb twenty years in London, and as he considers that British and American interests are identical, he favours both, becaufo Italy is upon very good terms with these powora. Italians are generally patriotic.

He knocks at Bell's door early next morning. He is anxious to learn that the quarrel will not altar the plans of the party, for they spend money lavishly. He is very police, and approaches the subject with caution. He is enraged with the Spaniard, and rattles out a torrent of invective?, which is as unintelligible to the American as one of the dead languages. Indeed Bell is doubtful whether it is levelled1 against him or the Spaniard. Bub the Italian suddenly moderates his tones, and drops into English. He regrets he cannot torn Senor Alphonso Velazquez away. Alphonso has engaged his rooms for four weeks. He is a troublesome customer, and a noted dtielliflt. •Heis a fool,' growls Bell. 'And Ido not allow any man to slap my faco. I never wrote a line to any woman yesterday. He is mad.' 'C'ielo! But bo cannot see to-day. His eyes are shut. He will want the signore to fight.' ' We do not fight duels in my country,' laughs Bell. The Italian's respect is shocked.

• Tben he will demand an apology.1 • Which he won'b get.' 1 Bub what will Signore Bell do ?' asks I the Italian. / ' Leave that; to me, sir. lam nob going to run away. We like your house, and we shall stay here as long as ib suits v?. 1 The hotel proprietor ia satisfied. He retires with many apologies for troubling his guest, and goes away only bo make room for a messenger from Velazquez. This messenger is the Frenchman, and he carries authority. Monsieur Bell must make &n ample apology to the man hoha9 insulted. If he refuse to do this he will wipe out the stain upon his honour, the attack upon his person, only in blood—a duel to the death. • Jf you are a gentleman, monsieur, there ia no alternative,' the Frenchman concludes. • Ib will be the best way to end the trouble —it will be the safest.' •The question of my claim to being a gentleman need not be discussed, Monsieur Carnot,' Bell says angrily. ' And I decline to fiirht a duel.' 'Then you muat apologise.' •I shall do neither. Stay ! I will consult with a friend and give you a reply thia evening. Senor Velazquez accused me of the detestable crime of tending a loveletter to a married woman—his wife. I deny ib. Renor Velazquez struck me and I knocked him down. That is all I have to aay at present.' •\ 7erv well, monsieur.' The Frenchman bows politely. 'I will call upon you this evening at eieht. I hope yonr representative will be hero also.'

Bell feois in the humour to kick him out, And mutters : ' 'Curse theso foreigners. Nothing but an exchange of pistol-shots, or a prod with a fapier satisfies them. If Ido shoot Sonor Velazquez will never fight; again.' There is a -grim smile on his face, for one of Lawyer Bell's hobbies has been pistol practice. He keeps all knowledge of the difficulty from his friends, excepting Playfair, and •as be witnessed the knock-dowr> blow he has 6c bo taken into the American's confidence, At "the suggestion of a duel ho becomes a little animated. Ho remnmbers seeing one at Monte Carlo ; bub he begs of Bell to inquire into the Spaniard's antecedents before agreeing bo fight. •He may be only a well-to-do tradesman, you know, out .for a holiday,' he eaya. 'And what of that?'

•It makes aH the difference in the world. He may belong to t'no canaille. You cannob fight one of the rabble. My dear Bell, caste is everything. 1 The Honorable Augustus is horriliei! by Bell's carelessness in these matters. 1 All Tight; I'll demand references/ is the laughing rejoinder. ' It may be an easy way of sjettin'g out of the scrape.' In the afternoon the party visits St. Peter's Church. The bells me ringing a merry peal and Mr Bell, senior', is deeply interested in some of the old pagan idols. Ho' is a K°°d Christian bub can hardly realise that he is in a Christian church. It is-more liko the worship of tho Mussulman. While his friends are dwelling upon the wonders'of the magniOcent edifice, Bel!, ■junior, is disgusted to soe the Senora Teresa, wao has caused him so much trouble. -She is kneeling devoutly before one ot the images,, and ho hopes that she is praying for help against her frailty. He notices, however, that she is wearing a magnificent carnation in her hair. Be. has seen ib before that very day and in the buttonhole of Freddie Hoekins. Hp remembers FreJdio's remarks now and guesses thathe was the author ..-f the letter that so enraged Velazquez. • I must cub ;the fellow dead in future, he thinks. 'He is worse than I ever suspected.' 'A penny for your ■thoughts, a soft voice says iv his ear. It is Lady Claradale. She is bewitchingly dressed. It is nor last chance on earth, for she vows she really loves Lawyer Bel!. 'You. seel am left alone. Your papa is absorbed in the contemplation Of Jupiter's statue !' . ' 'I am afraid that my thoughts would nob interest you, Lady Ularadale,' replies Bell. •At present I am bewildered by tho orandeurs about me. The very georgeou*Sess is rtrearisome. It appeals to tho leethetic intellect rather than to the Godseeking soul!' . '.Anything you say interests me, sighs the English aristocrat. Beil, senior, has been telling her to'encourage his son. 'If I bad anything to confess, and believed in tho utility of the confessional, there are boxes here" for every nationality,' the lawyer observes. Ho knits his brows, for he sees that his Bister is being bored by Iddy Jones. Lady Claradale puts this down to the «sifndonce,of a young; man who has nob spent much of his life iv tho society of beautiful women.

• I would prefer,' she whispera, ' to con fes« to you all that is in my heart.'

Bell is startled, bub immediately remembers that ho is a lawyer. Lawyers are privileged beings. They carry more secrets tbar< all the confessionals on earth.

• I am arreatly. honoured,' Mr Bell replies, 'bub this is hardly the place. I would BUggeßfe that you——'

* No! Where a holier apofc—a more fitting opportunity ? Nowhere on earth for the moat sacred breathings of the heart!' Lady Claradale'a eyes are humid, there is tender passion in her tone?. Unconsciously Lawyer Bell takes a lead-pencil from his pockets and prepares to make short-hand notea on the white cuff of his shirt-sleeve. This is an old habit of hie. His business instincts are not long dormant even iv the | dim aisles of St. Peter's Cathedral. ' Can you not guess something of that which is in my heart?' murmurs Lady Claradale. 'Yourdear father has urged me j toShe pauses, aud glances at him sweetly. He does not see this. His ears are open for business. He has already decided not to touch anything in English law, but if Lady Claradale's American securities are doubtful, or it she requires advice anent two or throe bogus mines that are beinp boomed in Utah he His thoughts are cut short, for 6he is speaking at;aio. 'Yes,'he says, for she seems embarrassed. • I think you mentioned that you bad spoken to my father. For purely practical advice you cannot find a more able man. Anything he says I shall be certain to indorse if ' 'Oh, Mr Bell— dear Mr 8011, you make me so happy !' She gives an hysterical littlo laugh," and the lawyer looks round anxiously. He hope that his mother carries a smelling bottle. However there is no urgent need for this, though Lady Claradale squeezes his arm tightly. ' I shall be glad if ycu will come to the point,' he says, quietly. She mistakes his quiet tone for tendernoss. ' You should nob mako me pay everything,' she whispers. • You should help me & little.' 'Certainly — certainly!' 801 lis bewildered. •I am a littlo older than you—but not much, and I have never loved before, John. Your dear papa thinks that you like mo, and—' She gives a happy giggle, and won id neßtle up to him if he did not step quickly back. It is not a lover-liko exclamation that rises to his lip?, and ho wonders what cursed foolery his father has been up to. 'Lady Claradale,' he says respectfully. 'I fear that there has been a grave mistake. I really—l thought that you wished to discuss business matters —settlements of—

' Oh, John ! the settlements I leavo to you. I know that you are rich and—' ' Curse it !' groans Bell. Lady Claradale is electrified.

• Do you pretend not to understand me after leading me to make so humiliating a confession ?' ehe sobs.

There are people coming in their direction, and he dreads a scene- However, ho has no cause to be afraid. Well-bred ladies can be as stoical as Indian 3.

' I am sorry for thin—very eorry, Lady Claradale,' he says humbly. Her eyes sparkle with anger. She sweeps haughtily past him, hissing : ' You have not the manliness of a cur !' Mr 801 l turns hot and cold. This is the second time within twenty-four hours that he has boen called a dog and a coward. Great Beelzebub ! Ho wipes the porspiration otl' hi 3 face, and wonders what evil fate can be conspiring against his peaco of mind. Tho joy he ha.i been hugging to his soul is not unalloyed. But to quarrel with a woman. It is the most unsatisfactory sort of quarrel! He looks angrily in the direction of his father and feels that he has a perfect right to be angry with him. It is the first time in his life, though. He knows that he has made an implacable enemy of Lady Claradale. Women are always epiteful toward a man they have failed to "bag." It's a way women have and a very unpleasant one too.

The party that returns is not so gay an the party that came to sco some of tho wonders of Rome. They occupy two carriages, and while Lady Claracialo carefully avoids Bell, junior, Alisß Bell in adopting similar tactic* coward Mr Iddy Jones. So tho party ot seven is divided in this way : Lady Ciaradale, Miss Bell and the Honorable Augustus, iirsfc carriage ; Bell, renior Bell, junior, Mrs-801l and Iddy Jones, second sarriage. The blending is not conducive tc joy in the last vehicle, tor Idtty Jones is seated opposite to 8011, junior, and Bell, senior, i* talking as innocently as though he were noc mixed up in the lovo affairs of both his children.

Bell, junior, ia maddened by the insolence of the hitherto humble-minded Iddy, and ia in just the right frame of mind to tacklo him. Tho glances of Evelyn have been pathetic all day. When they reach the hotel Mr Bell touches Iddy on the shoulder.

• My tabher says that you havo something to communicate to me,' he obporvo?. ' i shall bo pleased to hear it now, as I may have other business to attend to later.'

'As you wiii,' say's Iddy, jauntily. ' Shall I follow you into your parlour, old fellah f

•If you please.' Mr Bell's tones are icy. "When the door is closed behind them ho walks to the mantle-piece and rents one elbow upon it. His face is well in shadow, and he motions Iddy to a chair in full light ol the window. 1 I've been going to speak to you all day, old fellah,"' ho begins, a little uneasily ; "but there's always somebody been in the way, you know.' Hesticko his eye-glasa in his eye and smiles. • Well—l am listening.' ' 1 wish you would be a bit more friendly, old fellah, you know. You are nob a judue and 1 am nob-a criminal, You never sou me riding the high horse, old fellah ' '•• Will you tell mo what you want, Mister Jones ?'

' I want n'onoof your favours, iU inter Bell, and that's straight,' gurgles IdrJy, getting very red in the face. ' Don't think I'm ■going,to be afraid of your bullying. 1 know too much !'

' You !'. Lawyer Bell laughs. ' I never gavo you credit for any knowledge. lam j sorry that I have underestimated you, Iddy. Lot us get through this quickly, but avoid cheek, or I may throw you out. lamin nu •mood for nonsense to-day.'

ludy glances ab the door, and as he is near it, his confidence returns. •It's about Evelyn.' • Miss 8011, if you ploase !' sternly. 'l&ayit'* about Evelyn—and Miss Bell to- the devil.' Iddy has become pale, and his iingera are twitching convulsively. Bell advances two steps, and ho darts bohind a chair.

' Keep off. I'm prepared. I'vo got a gun, mid I'll uae it, you know..' Bell begins to think that he has lost what few wits he ever had. Ho sternly points to

Lho chair, and shouts : ' Sit down, sir, and let me hoar you out.' Iddy refuses to obey, bub goes on : ' Ycb. Tin going t(< marry Evelyn, and youVI better toll her so. It dopends on you. The old man ' —Bell can scarcely control himself—' told me that if you consent, the thing's done, old fellah. I've gob plenty o' chipn, as you know, and there can't be no objections to me. My family's as good as yours any blessed day, and I love Evelyn. What do you say, old fellah ?' ' If I cay no, what then ?' ' U hat then ? Why, I'll ruin all your love aU'aire.' Iddy looks vicious. ' You V ' Yes, /!' Iddy shouts now. ' You think I can't. Why, I've got all your business at my linger-ends. I know where the convict fellah's going to meeb you ' 'Tho convict fellow? Whom Jo you mean ?' Bell is very quiet.

'Grey! I know what he wrote to you, and it'll be iii the hands of ft detective tonight if you don't consent. I know all aboub the packet, and that is in the hands of a detective.' iddy goes Ol» wildly, hie wicked little eyes snapping, his common

libtle face as white aa death—hie plebian litble figure all in motion. He betrays himself now with every breath, and concludes, triumphantly : . 1 Will you consent now, old fellah ? 'Xo !' Bell thunders the word and bounds upon the little viper. He takes him by the collar with one hand, slaps his faco repeatedly with the other, and with, ' Begone, you infernal little thief,' casts I him out of the room, and with horrified face and bulging eyes', he roils down stairs. {To be Coittinued.)