LORD PENDRYN'S DAUGHTER, OR THE SHADOW OF A SIN.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5398, 4 October 1904, Page 2

LORD PENDRYN'S DAUGHTER, OR THE SHADOW OF A SIN.

[All Rights Reserved.]

BX HANNAH B. MACKENZIE. Author of "The AVeb of Fate,” "’Twixt Moor and Mountain,” “After Touch of "Wedded Hands.” etc. CHAPTER XXV, (Continued.) A curious thrill ran through the Court, There were few present who took in the full force of the words, yet ail felt that a crisis had been readied at last. “Bo careful what you say, monsieur.-' said tho counsel, whoso cold eyes had a gleam of triumph in them. ‘Tieiueinber you are on oath. Of what former union do you speak?’ 5 Every head was hont forward to catch tho answer. "When Do Ruhioro spoke, tho silence was so great that it seemed as if the falling of tho proverbial pin would have startled every one. “Of tho union effected in March, 1863, between Antonio Caesarini, master of a trading vessel between Naples and the Barbary States, and Magdalen or Maddalena Danvers.” An electric shock, running through tho Court from end to end and from seat to seat, would not have produced a more visible effect than De Rulnore’s words. No murmur, no sensation of surprise, testified to the effect; but a look of blank amazement too great for expression dwelt upon every face. Upon those more immediately concerned in tho result of so extraordinary a statement, the effect was still more apparent. Strangely ■ enough, Magdalen had been seized with a sudden attack, from which she often suffered, that day, and had been unable to attend the Court. But the ejaimant himself, ixpon whom tho blow fell with all the startling suddenness of an Utterly unexpected one, turned white as death; hardly knowing what he did, he started to his foot, as if to challenge the bold statement. His counsel, however, who was sitting near, bending across, whispered a few words in his ear, and Cecil sat down again, still looking dazed and bewildered. The Earl’s counsel, meanwhile, had resumed his interrogation. - - “What evidence have you got to substantiate such a statement?” De Rulnore produced the two certificates which both tho Earl’s counsel and his family lawyers had already seen. "This is the certificate of the marriage of Caesarini and Magdalen Danvers. The name is entered as Maddalena, which is tho Italian form of course. I have reason to believe there was not another Magdalen Danvers within tho iboundaries of the ' State in the year 1863. There was another—a relative—but she died seven years before that date.” The last statement was superfluous. The Earl’s face, in the shade as it was, seemed to turn a degree paler as Do Rulnore made it. The certificate was examined by legal and lordly eyes; but, as far as one could understand from the expression of these, no flaw was to he found in them. Tho Earl breathed more freely. “It is a most extraordinary complication I” whispered his counsel in Cecil’s ear. “Thera is' some villainy at tlio bottom of it.” “It is a villainous' plot,” said Cecil. Ho had recovered himself a little, and .sat erect, still pale, but with a set look upon his lips which the lawyer had never seen there before.- “I might have known it all along. De Rulnore swore ho would ruin 'us yet.’” "Can you prove to us two things, M. Do Rulnore?” tho examination was still proceeding. “First, that this is a genuine document: and second, that, even if genuine, it affects tho position of the claimant.” . “The first can be proved by examining the registers of the Church of San Marco. The second X answer with this.” Do Rulnore handed, over his second document, which purported to he a letter from the Governor of Algeria to the effect that Antonio Oaesorini, a native of Naples, of the trading vessel “Lucie,”, had been drowned off the coast of AI goria on the 7th July, 1865; that part of the value, of the goods on board his should be transmitted to his wife, Maddalena Danvers or Caesorini, on information being sent ns to where she resided; and a request that the person to whom the letter was sent should at once supply that information. The letter was addressed to Reginald Danvers, and signed by the Governor. The documents had been laid .(before the Bench. The judge, whose - sympathies had'been with the claimant from tho beginning, looked perplexed and wombd. He was a quick, ; excitable man, jyhom even to look at made most witnesses ; but when he now addressed a. few stern questions to De Rulnqfe, the Frenchman lost none of his imperturbability dr sang froid. ■,"How came you into possession of those papers?” “Of the J first, by a. private request preferred to-the present priest of San Marco, my lord; of the - second, from Iv&gmald Danvers’ own hands, about a month before his death.” replied the witness calmly. hat reason have you so positively to identity the mother of the claimant With this Maddelana Danvers?” ' "The reasons stated before, my lord First, that no other, Magdalen Danvers was known in Monaco at that date; secondly, that the letter from Algeria was sent to tho ■ father of Oaesenm’s presumed wife; thirdly, that in February, 1865, Caesarini, his wife, and child were living en famille at a very short distance from Danvers, her father.” Hiis lordship looked still more worried as , he turned away, from the witness. Cecil is counsel rose to cross-examine him severely, but nothing could shake his testimony. The impression ho loft on every legal mind, unbiassed by other issues than that of mere justice, was that he spoke the truth, and therefore was sure of his position. As Cecil slowly left the Court when the day was over, some one tapped him on the shoulder. Ho turned and faced —Mark Lawrence! ~‘Jo u Lawrence:” he exclaimed. W hy, this,is an unexpected pleasure I’* —and• tho two men shook hands heartily. 1 thought you would be surprised,” said Dr Mark: "but the truth is, I—l had a little business in London, and I thought I would look you up, and. see how things were progressing. T have engaged an assistant for the summer, so I am not quite so tied down as formedy.” “I am very glad to see you,” said Cecil, again. "How is”—he hesitated a moment—" Gwen “Pretty well, thanks; she is never quite so strong in the summer; ibut sho follows your case with great interest,

and is quite certain about your success.” Cecil’s face darkened, whether because of Mark’s words or not would bo difficult to say. “You see how things stand to-day. It looks tolerably like defeat.” Mr Ascott stood near, and Cecil turning to him said: “Conic to my chambers both of you. I shall send for my mother, and, if she is able to come, she will explain to us this extraordinary story.” Both men consented, mid, in less than an hour after, they were joined by Cecil's mother. Sho had been seriously ill, as was evidenced hy her wan and pallid looks, hilt her keen faculties were as much alive as over. Her first glance at her son’s face told her something was seriously wrong. “What is it?” she asked, quickly. .In- brief language Cecil gave her an account of De Rulnore’s evidence. She listened quietly until the culminating point was reached, when she sprang to her feet with an expression upon her faoo which startled even her. son. “Coward! liar!” she exclaimed through set teeth. “He spoke of revenge,and ho has taken it cruelly and completely. Who is this man of whom he speaks. 1 never even heard his name!” Her passion was not so much that of enraged and insulted virtue as of broken and baffled aims; and .for a moment the lawyer sat looking at her irtth suspicion growing slowly in his mind. But he had not time to speak; it was Cecil who came towards her with a fade from which every spark of colour had fled. _ _ “Mother,” he said in a curiously low, yet distinct’ voice, that seemed to his hearers to hold something deadly in its tone, “I said to you before, and I say it again, if you are deSeiving mo in any way, tell me now before things go further ! . Can you swear before us now, as in the presence of Almighty God, as you did in Court, that you aro'not doing so?” “As God is above me,” sho said,-in slow and solemn tones, her eyes fixed on her son’s face. "I have spoken the truth. - Never-was woman more 1 legally the wife of a man than I was of Marion, Earl of Pendryn, and of him' only.' As for this man. of whom Do Rulnore. my greatest living enemy, speaks, I do not oven know his name.” Tho three men were. impressed- bv the solemnity of her tone, and Cecil himself seemed satisfied. “Tell mo the .-name of this man again.” she said. "Antonio Caesarini.” “The name comes back to me in a mist,” she said, after a pause, during which she sat with shaded eyes, "and it seems a« if X had once heal'd my father'speak it; yet how or where I cannot remember. Ah I if my father were but alive I It seems as if evil spirits were arrayed against us, determined to compass our downfall.” “Can you not recall of whom your father spoke when he Used the name?” said Mr AsoOtb. “If w© had but some clue, w© might get out of this labyrinth.” “I cannot remember,’ she said, pressing her hand to her head. “It comes back to me like the memory of a past dream, of which I can seize no tangible idea.” . V. ■ “Can you remember anything that took place in this-year—the year 1863 —in which he says the marriage took place?” asked the lawyer, after a pause. , . “Let me think.” ■ She rose and paced the room, as sho had a habit of doing, when thinking; then paused before them, "1863 P It was the: year in which my father took his roulettotablo. and I became his decoy.” She looked at Cecil, who shrank back at the words. "Yes, I remember it all. We had many visitors, and they used to tell me 1 was beautiful. I bad suitors, though I was young—only. Seventeen; bub none among them called and yet tho name is familiar.” “It is strange you, whose memory is so good, cannot remember the circumstances under which you heard the name,” said the. lawyer coldly. .She looked at him sharply. “Ah 1 you, too, begin to suspocb met o’ost bion I even rats desert a falling bouse. Wo must only have those who trust us on our side Air Ascott.” ‘You mistake, madam©,” retorted Air Ascott. "I do not suspect you; but 1 want you to see how you really stand.” “You said before wo were bound to win, Air Ascott, because w© had right on our side; you don’t think now wo shall fail?” cried Cecil, excitedly. His dark ©yes wore blazing, his face flushed, his hands trembling; the strain on his nerves was becoming more than his highly-strung temperament could hear in calmness. “I trust wo shall win yet,” returned the lawyer; “but there is little us© in buoying ourselves up with the hope, if there is none. Let us feel the ground firm below our feet before wo say wo are sate.” ‘Then, let us do what w© can to make it firm!” Cecil exclaimed. “Let.no expense be spared—let us send detectives abroad to find out the truth about this man, Caesarini; surely everything can be traced to its beginning, and this as well as others.” ■ "It is more difficult than you imagine to find out the particulars of a marriage which took place thirty years ago.” said the cautious lawyer. “The worst of it is, ©very person connected with this affair seems to havo joined the majority, and so wo havo practically little to go upon. But wo shall do what we can.” Alagdalen Danvers, rousing herself from the stupor into which she seemed to have fallen, suddenly said—“l will tell you what to do. Search for my father.” "Your father!” repeated the lawyer m astonishment. “Why he is dead. H.sdeath has been authenticated.” Ho is not dead,” she answered. "I feel .-certain ho lives. Ho is in De Rulnore’s pay, and is hidden somewhere Sucll things can be done in Alonaco though they could Hot bo done in England. : Search for him; I know he is alive.” CHARTER XXVI. THE PASSING OF MAGDALEN D ANVERS. “She is an , extraordinary woman,”

said Mr Aseott, whok Cecil's mother had left them. "I do not know hut she may he right after all. But, if she is, your grandfather—excuse me, Mr Danvers—must be a most unmitigated scoundrel"So I presume ho is,” said Cecil, more excitedly than he had spoken before. ‘‘You are too excitable,” said Mr Ascott. “'and should leant to govern your nature bolter. There's no -wild animal so difficult to control as one's nerves.” "Good advice,” said Cecil, stretching himself, lazily. The lawyer looked at him with a kindly eye. Ho liked the young follow, whose fickleness of mood made him more lovable than many a more reliable character. “But. you seo I am as Mature made me. My mother says I inherit my father's disposition rather than the nohle Danvers one.” '(Likely enough,” said the lawyer. “I shall send a detective secretly to hunt out the particulars of this marriage, and to find whether your mother's- supposition is correct or not. Good evening, gentlemen.” ■ When the two young men wore left alone. Mark asked suddenly, with the air of one who cannot make up his mind to something unless he does it promptly—‘‘Have 30U heard anything lately-of your sister, Danvers?" “Mot since the case began,” Cecil replied. “Bub she is still in St. Mary’s, and will receive visitors—she is at least, allowed full freedom. Would you like to call on her?” “I think not,” Dr Lawrence answered. “I do not wish to thrust myself "poo her. But I shall bo in London for u . while, Danvers, and, if the case is decided before I leave, I shall oast all scruples to the winds and see her. “Whether she is 'still Lady Clare Montague, an heiress and landowner, or simply the Bari of Pendryn’s natural daughter?” said Cecil quickly. - (To be Continued.)