THE LUCK OF THE DARRELLS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8611, 23 December 1913, Page 2

THE LUCK OF THE DARRELLS

i’cblished by Special Aukancement.J

BY ERNEST TKEETON, Author of "The Instigator," "Her Double Life," "Xlie Saving _Ol Christian Sorjjison," "Tho Goring Mystery." etc., ere.

COPi’RIGHT. CHAPTER XXV. Like other men Inspector Wedge sometimes honoured himself by proposing plans without considering the gods. On this occasion he proposed, and tfao gods disposed. He had planned for himself tho delectablo entertainment of listening to Luke Slewth’s letter to Aubrey de Brcoas when do Brocas produced it, as ho would bo almost sure to do, for Glyndalo to road at Lady Glyndale’s musical party. Instead of this nappy crowning of his devices, ho had to wait. De Brocas was so accommodating as to assist the gods in defeating his design by addressing to Glyndale House a letter, in which the earl read;— Dear Lord Glyudale,—Let mo congratulate you on the imminent restoration of tne Luck of the Darrells. I have had the pleasure of receiving a letter from Mr. Slewth, addressed from Shelliold, in which he informs rno that he has succeeded in gaming possession of the lost Eye; though' tho thieves managed to evade him. I am heartily glad of this happy achievement, especadly as it justifies the estimate I had formed of his detective tafeuf when I recouunouded him to you. Perhaps i can hardly do better than give you a copy ot his letter. He says:—“Dear Sir,--It is with pleasure that 1 inform you tffat I have succeeded in executing ytmr commission to trace and recover the property of the Earl of Glyndale, known as the Luck of the Darrells. As 1 havo communicated to Lord Glyadale the details of tho recovery of the property, perhaps 1 may be excused from repeating them . here, especially as I am greatly pressed for time, and have requested his lordship to show you my letter I am now continuing the pursuit of the thieves. Meanwhile I have asked Lord Glyndale to let me know, through the medium of my office in Cloister Street, how he would like to have the Luck return ed —that is to say, through the post, or by my hand when X return. As you know, from my original letter informing you on the subject, by the agreement between his lordship and mysel, I am to return the Luck to him direct; while he, for his part, undertakes to receive it as from your hand, and to accept it as having been restored to him by you. But, of course, if you and his fordship have adopteef any other ar rangeraent, I shall be happy to com ply with it. In any case, while most ready to follow any plans made mu tually by you and his lordship, 1 hold myself bound to you; so that in my course of action I should like to be in no doubt. Perhaps you or Lord Glyndalo will let me know, and I will act accordingly. Meanwhile, 1 shall be happy to receive your cheque for five thousand pounds, as offered and accepted, at your early convenience. I may say that the jewel is well worth the money risked upon it. My estimate of its value is that it is worth ten times as much. —I am, dear sir, your obedient servant. Luke Slewth.Ot course. I shall draw a cheque in Mr Slewth’s favour for the amount stated, as soon as I know that the Luck is actually in your hands; and I need not say that I shall sign it. with very much pleasure. As to any new plans, to which Mr Slewth refers —well, I hardly know. Certainly, I should wish for nothing better than to think nothing of reimbursement. X backed my confidence with my money, I have had a good run for the price, and in that sense I am well satisfied. But lam well aware that you would not wish to be under an unsought debt to me. Nor would I wish such a thing: the case is not one of noblesse oblige. Yet, as wo have been brought romantically into contact during the period of the doubtful fortunes of the Luck, 1 hope the end may be not altogether the unromantio one of pounds, shillings, and pence. I suppose, if I followed traditional example, as in the case of Baron Wrotteswolde and the

Lady Mary Darrell, I should be tempted to claim ransom for the Luck, especially as in the copy of the agreement which Mr Slewth sent me before he began tho quest, you agree to reimburse me in any other man-

ner that 1 may choose and determine. “Any other manner” is not money: and, really, Xdo not .desire cash. It I am to hold to my recompense at all—and, from your standpoint, it is unavoidable; so that I must —X would much rather receive it in some “other manner.” You may, or may not, have noticed it, but I have long had a deep admiration for Lady Doris; and X do not think I ever felt my emotion for her more than I did on the night of Lady Glyndale’s reception, when she reminded me of the humorous words that I had spoken to her some time before about herself, the Luck, and the ransom. 1 would now say them in earnest. Indeed, II could hardly find myself able to lose hold of them. That X should honour her as her husband I feel sure you will know. I put forward my desire with all the more confidence —I might say claim —now that things have como to bo as they are. I think you will understand, without my having to touch much on a painful subject, especially so to Lady Doris. Now that Mr Stafford seems to be either dead, or utterly vanished, difficulty iu the way of realising my wish and desire would. I hope, bo entirely removed. But as to that and to other matters which may be incidental to the interest between us, I will wait until I have tho pleasure of seeing you in person. All being well, that should bo this evening; for Lady Glyndale has honoured me with an invitation to her musical party, so chat I should be able to have _ 4 ' pleasure of a few minutes’ private conversation with you. Again, my warm congratulations. Believe me,

dear Lord Glyndale, sincerely yours, Aubrey d» Brocas.

AVlien Glyndale readied tho end of this letter he dropped tho hand that held it on the broad arm of the divan diair in which ho was sitting, and looked uncommonly serious and meditative. A subtle web had been spun around him, and now his eyes were opened to it. From day to day he would have denounced and repudiated the agreement with Slcwth, and would have set it aside. But there had been no one to whom ho could revoke it. Even now Elkin Laidlaw was still absent. So also was Slowth; he had been equally beyond

reach in unknown quarters. But here was Slewth. And with him came mccess, and the Luck. The work was finished. Repudiation was now impossible, because it was too late. Glyndale was a man of honour. The words of the agreement ranged themselves stubbornly before his mental eye, and ho saw not how ho was to evade tho fulfilment of his bond. A curious thought came to him.

“If do Brocas was denied his wish—which was a subtly formulated claim, notwithstanding tho pleasant friendliness of the letter in which it was contained—would he get his instructions convoyed to Slewth to hold the Luck, and then retain possession of it against the fulfilment of the agreement? In other words, would he hold it to ransom, with Doris as the; price of the redemption, and as tho form ot his own reimbursement under the contract? Would he gain by modern means what the Baron Wrotteswolde had obtained by fire and sword?”

This event would leave but one course open, and Glyndalo saw* it plainly enough. It would involve an action at law to compel de Brocas ro restore tho Luck, and to have the agreement pronounced against on tho ground that it could not have comprehended such a claim without being vicious in law. But there would bo scandal, and shallow public sentiment would surely sympathise with the romantic element in de Brocas’s case. But his questioning did not pause there. De Brocas would not be the first man who had evaded writs, juclg-. ments, and executions by removing himself out of the jurisdiction of the High Courts; and the moment ho was threatened with the law there would be nothing to prevent him from crossing tho Channel, taking the Luck with him. In the opinion of Glyndale, do Brocas was a gentleman, and ho believed that he would act as a man of refinement and culture. But with a woman in the case a gentleman reverted to the natural man, as the letter of do Brocas with all it arts, clearly showed; and Glyndale saw that tho case would probably have to one of compromise, with sacrifice on his own side. Ills word was his honour, and his honour was his bond. Some portion of the legendary omen of the Luck had been, and was now being, fulfilled, even if more ill-fortnue was not to come. , “I must wait and see,” said Glyndale at last, with a heavy breath; “I must soot”

(To he continued.)