HIS FATHER'S HONOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 141, 13 June 1908, Page 16

HIS FATHER'S HONOUR.

A MODERN ROMANCE

CHAPTER V. The Earl was thankful to have been able to put an end to the interview with his son, for he realised that "the attitude that he had taken up must appear inexplicable. He decided to consult with Joel. He did not intend to be absolutely frank with him. but merely to hint that there was a difficulty with regard to the projected marriage. He had quite forgotten the announcement of a visitor, when Ackroyd was ushered into his presence. He looked at him with indifference, and decided to get of him at the earliest possible moment, for he felt sorely in need of a rest after the strain of the recent strenuous conflict with his son. "I am very busy tliis afternoon, Mr— ■\lr ah —Ackroyd, and I hope that you will make your"business as short as pos•'That is my intention, my lord. But I" fear that I shall have to detain you for some little time- May I take a seat?" Ackroyd asked suavely. -Certainly. Very remiss not to have asked you. " Xow tell mc what I can do for yoii.' he asked with cold courtesy. "I must first trouble you with a little of my private history. Quite recently I have" been engaged by Mr Felix Shelby to assist him in sorting the private papers of the late Prime Minister." Ackroyd carefully watched his victim, but the Earl had not wholly lost the selfcontrol given to him by his diplomatic training?and he looked calmly and coldly at his visitor.

"Among these papers I have found certain letters, which I think your lordship will find interest you personally."

"In what way, Mr Aekroyd?" "These letters refer to a matter which, took place some thirty years ago." •'Rather ancient history, is it not?" the Earl interrupted. His manner was calm, but his fare had suddenly grown very white, and his eyes were strained -with anxiety. "I am afraid that I shall not find it interesting, and I really am extremely busy. lam sorry to cut short our interview."

The Earl rose from his seat, but his knees trembled, and he was forced to reseat himself. Aekroyd looked at him steadily, and a faint smile twitched his mouth.

"I regret to have to cause you inconvenience, but I am unable to leave vgu ■until -we fca-ve arrived at an understanding. I say this iv your own interest, Ix>rd Wolverholme," he said, with ominous gravity. Indecision was depicted on the Earl's face. He longed to turn the man out, but he dared not do so. A dread fear clutched Mm that his sin had found him out; his heart throbbed wildly, and he pressed his hand to his heart. For a year or two after his treason, he had lived in dread of the -world gaining knowledge of his dastardly sale of his country, but time had lulled him ,into security, and it "was .only at rare intervals that le ever-thought of the black deed of his life. He gasped for breath, and rising unsteadily, half filled a tumbler with neat spirit and gulped it down. "I really do not understand you, and "5-am not well enough >to .prolong this interview," he managed to say at last.

"I see that your lordship is indisposed, and I can well understand it." Aekroyd rose with a pleasant smile, and walked slowly towards the door. He had not miscalculated, for as soon as his hand touched the knob, the Earl called to him peremptorily.

"Perhaps 1 1 bad better bear you," he said feebly, -waving him once more to the chair.

Aekroyd was in no haste to begin. He leant back eomfortablv.

" "Would your lordship mind if I smoke? I can think so much better with a cigar in my mouth, and I am desirous of dealin* with you as gentlyns possible."

The Earl motioned to the cigars, and ■with dry lips and strained eye -watched his visitor slowly light one.

"As I was saying some forty—or thirty, I s correct—some thirty years ago your lordship was intrusted by the British (xovernment with the charge of an important negotiation at St. Petersburgh. Am I right?" Aekroyd asked cheerfully.

A nod of his head was his only answer, for he was incapable of speech. tc You carried out work successfully, that is from the Russian point of view. It appears that about this time you were engaged ,to be, married to a lady of -wealth. Your own affairs -were very much involved; and you found that it would he quite impossible to carry through this marriage without a very large sum of money. Your estates were entailed, 'and-you could not raise the money in any direction; even the Jews failed you. Accordingly it .became necessary to smother your conscience, and you decided to accept an, offer made to you by the Russians."

Aekroyd ceased speaking, and he looked gravely at the Earl. There was a menace in his yoke as he continued:

"That offer -was nothing more or less ■than the sale of your country." The Earl .shrank back as though struck by a blow. His colour came and went; his fingers clutched the palm of his hand, and his body trembled violently.

His tormentor waited for him to speak, but in vain.

"How do you know this?" he at lastmanaged to utter, but his voice quavered, and he appeared to have aged suddenly ,by years.

"You received the price of your treason, your affairs were arranged, and the marriage took place. But Nemesis was on your track; the transaction came to the knowledge of our Russian Ambassador. It was confided by him solely to the late Prime Minister. He sent for you and I can well believe that the interview must have been painful to-you."

The Earl shuddered, and clutched the arm of the chair.

"You were allowed to retire, and since then you have lived and enjoyed the Tespect. of your many friends."

The Earl summoned up all his courage and rose from his seat.

'"I have listened with calmness to a £ase calumny, and I can only, think that this is an attempt.to blackmail mc. But you' will riot succeed; "the whole story b a .figment of your imagination."

Aekroyd smiled pleasantly. ''I speak of what I know to be the .Viith," he answered quietly.

The Earl laughed.scornfully. He had decided to fight: for he felt it- extremely fcnprobabla that the Prime Minister could have left evidence to convict him, and •irh&t else had he to fear?

"I think it unnecessary to prolong this "interview," he s&fd with an effort at calmness. . i-o-;.->,■>- •■■ ■-

'- \_ "Just as- you please; It is a. matter of

BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.

perfect indifference to mc; there are "those who will receive it with open arms. Good afternoon, my lord."

As he rose he took the letters from his pocket.

" What have you there ? " the Earl dtemanded eagerly.

" At the outset of this interview I told you that I had found certain letters. 1 did not lie, here they are."

He held them forth, and the Earl eag erly stretched forth his hand.

" I am afraid I cannot part with them, even for a moment, they are of value to mc. You may look at them if you wish, but I thought your lordship declared that the whole affair was a figment of my imagination," Ackroyd said jeeringly. But his face wore a triumphant expression. He felt that he held the whip hand, and that the Ea?l would eventually pay.

" But they are gibberish," the Karl cried as he looked at the letters which were held up to his view.

" Merely a cipher." He took another paper from his pocket, ancli which he handed over.

"I have certainly decided the letters, and here is an accurate copy. 1 can make you a present of it if you like, but stay. You knew the Prime Minister's handwriting; you had better satisfy yourself that the originals were written by him."

A fear that was pitiful had seized hold of the Jiarl, and it was with difficulty that he read the paper, owing to the violent trembling of his hands. The document fluttered to the iloor, and the Earl fell back into his chair. His face was ashen white, and his breast heaved spasmodically. '"Quick!" he gasped, "in that drawer —get the bottle." Aekroyd ran to the drawer. " Pour out ... a dose ... or I shall diie . . . my heart! " Aekroyd did as he was bid, and his victim drank the medicine.

He anxiously gazed at the Earl, but there was no pity in his concern, for lie only thought of the money that he was to gain. Death, or even a serious illness would ruin his plans, and he would have to go away empty.

He watched the effect of the drug, and the colour gradually returned to the Earl's face, hut his lips were grey. "I am beaten," the Earl said, noticing. "What is your price?"

"1 am sorry to have caused you all this distress. I would that I could have entirely avoided the necessity of this interview. lam a poor man, my lord; my life has been full of vicissitudes, and I am on my beam ends."

"For God's sake, cut the cackle. How much, man?" the Earl said fiercely.

"I want fifty thousard pounds," the other said with deliberation.

'•You are mad—mad," the Earl shrieked shrilly; '"I am a poor man." \ "That is my price," he said firmly. "You low blackmailer! Get out of my house! I will send for the police. You are only fit for gaol, you coward!" "Softly, my lord, you are not one who should throw stones," Aekroyd said in a silken voice. i g< g< "If you had said a thousand I might have been able to manage it," the Earl said more calmly. "I am sorry to have called you names, but you drove mc to it. I will give you a thousand pounds." Ackroyd rose to his feet and laughed contemptuously, as the Earl produced his cheque book.

"It is more than I can afford. lam in debt, and have had to borrow money myself."

"That sum -would not last mc six months, and I have made up my mind to get from you a sufn&hntly large s|m to keep mc in comfort for the rest of my life. You must .really be more generous, Lord Wolverholme. lam not asking for a tithe of the sum you received for your treachery, and you have had the use of that for more than thirty years. They did not make you disgorge, you know. You must really be more generous."

"I cannot sustain this interview much longer. I have had an agitating day, and lam far from strong. I will fio. you five thousand pounds," he said desperately,

"I have named my price, -which is a moderate one, when you think vraifi I am selling. It means your good name —more than that. Your son, too, would be ostracised if this were known. There would be a public outcry, for the last thing that the British public will endure is treason. You would be hounded from the country, and the name of Lord Wolverholme would be synonymous with everything contemptible. You would not have a friend m the world. Salvation from this is surely cheap at the price I ask you to pay." '

The Earl quaked as he heard the scathing words, and all his courage left him.

"lou must moderate your demands. I realise that I am in your power, but if you wish to obtain anything at all, you must be merciful. As it is, lam advised that I have not long to live, and is it wise, therefore, to drive mc to desperation? Think!"

Ackroyd felt ■ that the battle was won; he had asked considerably more than, he finally intended to /accept. "I have explained my position explicitly- Y° u must increase your offer very considerably. I will abate my demand a little but we must meet one another." "Heaven only knows how I.shall get it, out I will give you ten thousand pounds. That is my final offer." If that is so, I am sorry for you. rhmgs will have to take their course." The Earl turned to his desk and took forj j o that he had prepared. money.

Ackroyd looked at the figures, and his face fell as he realised their meaning For a moment he thought that his hope was doomed to disappointment, and fury filled his heart. J

"I can't help your troubles," he said fiercely; "I've my own to consider.- This paper may contain a true statement of your affairs, but that doesn't affect mc If you have not got if, you can borrow it easily enough. Your -Jewish, friend Joel would lend it you for the asking. I suppose mat is the only reason you are so friendly with him. The Joel Josephs of this world are not ■ usually received by people like yourself unless there is something behind it."

The Earl looked at the drawer which contained Joel's cheque. Should he sacrifice that? What would happen if he were to refuse to give the man anything? The money that he had obtained

that morning, he felt he had paid for by his interview with his son; No! He must pay. Ackroyd meant business, and anything tetter than this act of treachery should become known. "Name your minimum," he said curtly. He had made up his mind to the sacrifice, and he wished to get it over as soon as possible. "Tell mc the most you can pay at once," Ackroyd asked eagerly "Twenty.-fjve" thousand; pounds." Acfioyd's heart /beat wildly: at the amount.""Tt wdulddo.

"It-is a -bargain," he cried hastily. The Early produced Joel's cheque from the drawer, and taking up his pen slowly wrote his name on the back. "Give mc the papers," he said weakly, for his strength was leaving him. Ackroyd clutched at the cheque and laughed gleefully when he saw the name of the drawer.

Lord Wolverholme seized the letters in his hands, carefully examined them, and placed them in his pocket for subsequent destruction.

CHAPTER VI. Joel Josephs had confidence in his own ability to bring this marriage to a successful termination, and he determined to tackle Lord Harecastle. '"No time like the present," was his motto; and he soon followed Harecastle to his room.

"I hope I am not bothering you," he remarked, and took an armchair, without waiting for an invitation. "Perhaps you know that your father confides in mc to a great extent." Harecastle- looked up quickly, and wor.dered, if by any chance Joel was aware of the reason of the Earl's opposition to his marriage with Ethel Fetherston. Although he had wished to be alone, he thought it wise to hear what his visitor had to say, in the hope that he might throw some light on the subject that was troubling him.

"So I have understood," he answered, politely, "and I am sure that your assistance must be of great service to him."

Joel smiled grimly and thought of the cheque that he had drawn that morning.

"D_o you know anything about his affairs—l mean financially?" he asked.

"I can't say that I do. He makes mc an allowance, which is sufficient for my needs. He has always kept his affairs to himself, but from a remark made recently, I think he is now going to permit mc to help him."

"That is excellent from every point of view. Your father wants a man of sound iconinion-sen.se to be continually at his elbow. In fact he needs a restraining [influence," Joel said significantly.

J "What do you mean?" Hurecas).l3 asked frigidly.

"Please do not take offence at anything I say. I assure you that I speak entirely for your good, and, of course, your fathers," Joel added hastily.

'"I am not so easily offended, Mr. Josephs, but I wish you would tell mc at what you are hinting." "I have not your father's permission to discuss the matter with you, but I certainly think you ought to know that he speculates a good deal." "1 was not aware of that," Harecastle said quickly. "I thought that he followed your advice upon financial matters. "He has done 'so, and with great benefit to himself, but I have discovered to-day that he has been plunging on his own initiative, andi with rather disastrous results. This'information gave Harecastle food for thought, and he at once jumped to the conclusion that here lay the reason of the opposition to his marriage. He decided that upon the first opportunity he would go thoroughly into the matter with his father. Ethel Fetherston was rich, but wa3 by no means wealthy, and if his father's affairs were seriously embarrassed, it would delay their marriage for a long period.

If this was the cause of the opposition, there was a hope that it might be overcome, for of all ills, lack of money is the one that is easiest overcome, and that leaves the least traces behind it.

"I think that I am quite au fait with your father's affajrs. If he were to die at the present moment, he would leave a considerable liability behind him. You would succeed to the estates, and, of course, the property would be free from any claim by your father's creditors. But, perhaps, as a matter of honour, you would consider yourself obliged to settle his liabilities." ««,

"I should naturally pay everything that my father owed," Harecastle promptly rejoined.

"I thought you would look at it from that point of view," Joel replied with quickly concealed triumph. "It is only what one would expect from a man of your character. I am very sorry to be the bearer of news that must naturally cause you a deal of worry. I have known you for some time, and, if I may permitted to say so, I have a great liking for you."

"That is vary kind, Mr. Josephs," Harecastle s-aid heartily.

"Your future ought to be a brilliant one. The only tiling you lack is money." "A most important thing," Harecastle said..

"Yes, but one that can be acquired," Joel broke in quickly.

He thought it was time to come to close quarters.

"I wonder you have never married," he continued quietly. "I am sure that you would never marry for wealth alone. But if 3'ou could fix your affections upon one where riches lay, it would be a happy solution of the "difficulty."

"One cannot always order one's affections," Harecastle said coldly.

"Quite true, quite true," Joel said hastily. "I understand that, but I had hoped that you had formed an attachment that would be in every way suitable."

"I do not wish to be rude, Mr. Josephs, but you must please understand that this is a subject that I do not care to discus 3at the present moment." / "As for any financial difficulty, I say "

"Please say nothing. . Perhaps you have said more than enough. What you have already told mc has given mc much food for thought. In a day or two I may, perhaps, be able to give you my confidence. Indeed, I shall then be very glad of your assistance," he'wound up with a smile. *

Harecastle rose as he spoke, and the two men returned to the hall. Joel was not satisfied with the result of the conversation, but he was glad that Harecastle should know of the Earl's difficulties,, and he hoped that the hint that he let fall might bear fruit. He was anxious to know if the Earl had already broached to his son the subject of his marriage with Rebekah, and would have at once gone to see him, had he not ascertained that he was still engaged with his visitor. They found that tea was being served in the hall, and to Joel's delight Harecastle at once took a seat beside Rebekah Every little sign that pointed to the consummation of his hope caused him keen pleasure. The feeling which nre dominated with him was his love fo^M

daughter, but there ha A been added to it another motive which was well nigh as powerful. The love of battle which had animated him • when he • fought".for-, his millions at Kimberley was part of Ma nature. It had- lain dormant, but _ themere suggestion of there being a difficulty in.bringing off this marriage project had revivified it. He was convinced that Harecastle must have made love to Rebekah. He reasoned that she would not have centred her affections upon Him,' unless she had met with encouragement.;' This reason was bad; but he: thought he thoroughly understood his daughter, and that her pride was equal to his own. So it was in ordinary things, but where love is concerned, pride does not hold a place with such a nature as Rrbekah's. He felt that his only weapon was in wealth and the Earl's monetary difficulties.

{To be continued next Wednesday.)