UNKNOWN

Otago Witness, Issue 803, 20 April 1867, Page 13

UNKNOWN

By the Author of " East Lynh e," " Lord Oakbuhn's Daughtbrb," &c.

CHAPTER XXXI. — TKK DEAD IN LIPB.

Isr the invalid's room at the Sailors' Rest— for to they had taken to call the chamber tenanted so long by the sick stranger— sat Mr Home, in a fever of expectation. He was not a man accustomed to be contradicted or crosser 1 , or to wait for the fulfilment of his mandates ; he had ■waited in ill-disguised impatience for the return of Mr Apperly to Daneeheld, and now that he was returned, Mr Home had peremptorily demanded him.

The lawyer came bustling in last, marshalled by Mrs Ravensbird. He — with hia own umbrella and hers— had overtaken her as she was turning into the Sailors' Kest. Not a word spoke she as she showed him into the room and shut the door upon him. Ravensbird was standing by the sofa on which the sick man sat, their backs "to the door. The lawyer's head wa9 full of nothing else but some will that was to be made — called for in this peremptory haste ! He stepped round to the front of the sofa, speaking as he went.

44 1 am sorry to hear you are seriously ill, sir," he began. "Mr Home, I believe." The invalid raised his head and threw his oyes upon him. His high features, somewhat attenuated now by suffering, his keen eyes, and his silver hair, were fine as a picture. A handsome man still. Mr Apperly gazed at him, and then backed a few paces, astonishment mingled with terror on his countenance.

41 Good heavens !" he uttered, ss he wiped his brow. 4 ' It— it— can it be ? It is Captain Dane ! come to life again."

"No, sir," rejoined the invalid, very sharply for one so ill, "it is not Captain Dane. lam Lord Dane. Aud si I have been ever since my father's death,"

The lawyer was utterly bewildered, as well he might be. He turned from the sick man to Ravensbird, from Ravensbird to the sick man.

" Is it a dream ?" he gasped. 41 It is not a dream," said Ravensbird. <l ltis my old master, sure enough; my lord now. I have been proud to know it ever since the day after the shipwreck." Have you been prepared to know it too, reader? It was, indeed, Harry Dane. The fall bad not killed him, and you will hear presently how he escaped ; but there's matter on hand to relate first that will not wait. He had been living ever since in the New World, chiefly travelling from place to place; and completely unconscious that the Lord Dane reigning at the old house was not bis brother Geoffry. "Why you— you— are supposed to be lying iv the Danesbeld vaults, sir— my lord," exclaimed Mr Apperly. " Goodness help me!" he broke off, in his former hot fashian. "If you are in truth Lord Dane, who is he— the other Lord Dane at the Castle ?"

" If I am in truth Lord Dane !" retorted the invalid. "What do you mean, Apperly ? lam my father's son." " Yea, yes, of course; but these sudden changes confuse me," cried the perplexed lawyer. " Who is he at the Castle, I say ? I can't collect my senses. Were you really not killed, my lord ?" "If I was killed I came to life again," said Lord Dace, intending the words as a joke. "He at the Castle is plain Herbert Dane, and has, in actual right, never been anything else. I'm afraid he won't like being deposed from his place after enjoying it so long. But now "

" And how were you saved ?" interrupted the lawyer, who was unable fully to realise the position yet. " I was saved by Colonel Moncton, and conveyed on board his yacht to America. And I had r;ot the remotest suspicion, until I was shipwrecked on this coast a few weeks ago, that I had any right to the honors of my ancestors, or that my brother Geofiry was dead. "That's erjough explanation for you for the present, Apperly ; and now to business, for there are matters on hand very pressing. First of all — do you enlist on my side, or on that of Herbert Dane, should there be litigation between us ?"

44 There cannot be litigation, if you mean as to your rights" returned the lawyer, impulsively. "Lord Dane— l mean Mr Herbert — could not hold out agaiast you for an hour."

"But I don't mean as to my rights," wasthe rejoinder, given with quiet equanimity. '• Just answer my question, will you, Apperly, and bear in mind that every moment of time is precious. Will you act ss ray legal adviser, or as is whom you call Lord Dane?".

41 As if there could be a question, my lord! As yours, of course; it is my natural right. With Lord— with Mr Herbert I have not been very cordial ; or, Tath^r, he has not with me ; and he now •chiefly employs Mr Lester's solicitor."

"Good. Had you decided the other ■way, things for me might have been diffi-

cult yet to set straight. About that lost box, Apperly ? I const have it found."

14 Young Lydney V' remarked the lawyer in reply. "And a fine row he has yeen miking over it, I hear." 41 Ah! But it's not his ; it is mine." 44 Yours, my lord!" cried Mr Apperly, after a pause. "Then that explains the mystery of the thousand pounds reward. That a fellow such as Lydney should offer it astonished Danesheld "not a little."

41 How do you mean, 4 a fallow such as Lvdney?'" cried Lord Dane, sharply taking up the words.

44 Well, offlcourse it haa been suspected what sort of a character he is — although he did happen to be your lordship's fellowpassenger, and was saved with you from the wreck. However, his career's cut skort now, and he is in safe custody. Bent has walked him off to the station- house."

44 Walked Mr Lydney off to the stationhouse !" exclaimed Ravensbird, while Lord Dane's eyes assumed a fierce expression, as they looked to the lawyer for an explanation.

41 Reports have been abroad some time, I find, connecting him with the poachers," said Mr Apperly ; "but he has now got himself into real trouble. He and three more, with blackened faces, broke into Squire Lester's last night, after the plate ; but ih*y were fortunately disturbed before they could carry if; off. Lydoey was the only one recognised, and he is given into custody."

*' How dare you traduce him, and in my presence ?" cried Lord Dane, hiq countenance flashing with wrath. "You don't know what you are saying, Mr Apperly. Are you aware who he is ?"

" Not I, my lord. I know nothing of him, except that his name's Lydney — as he says. Danesheld looks upon him as an adventurer."

"He will be Danesheld's chieftain, sir; I can tell you thar," returned his lordship, with emotion. " Ay, you may stare, but he will. He is my own lawful pon, and will be my Lord Dane before very long, for I fear my days are numbered." "Why it is mystery upon mystery!" exclaimed Mr Apperly, who certainly did stare, in no measured degree, and grew hotter every minute. "He goes by the name of William Lydney." "He is my own son, I tell you— the Honorable GeoffVy William Lydney Dane. Geoff ry is his first name, but we have always called him William ; my wife, a lady of French extraction, used to say her lips would not pronounce the Geoffry. And you assert that he is in custody ! Ah, well, that will be soon set to rights, 1 ' concluded Lord Dane, leaning back on the sofa, and calming down his excitement. " lie certainly was in Mr Lester's hou*e with the others ; he does not deny it," debated the lawyer, hopelessly puzzled. " Then, sir, he was there for some sood and legitimate purpose," cried Lord Dane, with dignity. " I know nothing of the matter ; he has not confided it to me ; but I can take upon myself to answer for so much. Pshaw, sir ! talk of housebreaking in connection with William Dane, one of the best and most honorable of men, and who will be a peer of England ! Your wits must have gone wool gathering." That the wits had gone somewhere appeared probable by the helpless vray *in which the lawyer softly rubbed his head. It would take him a day to understand this. 14 Once more let me beg of you to listen to me," resumed the invalid. " That box, about which so much commotion has been 1 made, wa3 originally ray mother's, Lady Dane's. The initials stood for her maiden name, Verena Vincent Verner ; she was a neice, as yeu may remembtr, of General Vincent's, and his name was given to her. There's not the lea9t doubt that Herbert Dane recognised the box as it stoed on the beach ; he had seen it many times, and he knew that my mother's brother, young Verner, had caused the Maltese cross to be added to it in a freak. This box, as it happened, X had lefc in Canada when I came over to England on that last visit. Herbert Dane, when he recognised it on the beach, must have been attacked with some vague fears, which caused him to convey the box to the Castle. He may have thought his victim was coming to lite again to accuse him."

" His victim ?" cried Mr Apperly. " Yes, his victim. It was he who threw me over the cliff ; Mr Herbert Dane. Not intentionally ; I admit that ; but he suffered my faithful friend and servant here," touching Rivensbird, "to be suspected and accused of it. I know not what he may have feared, and it does not matter what ; he took the box, and is keeping it, And now, Apperly, to my chief bu-inesa with you : Are there, to your knowledge, any secret places ia the Castle, where such a thing might be hidden away ?" <l Yes, there are," was the prompt reply. "Old Lord Dane— your father— once showed them to me. In the trestle- closet ia the 6trong-room— the death-room as we used to call it— there's a secret spring ; touch it, and it pushes back a slidiug panel, leading to several small hidingplaces," °

" Then that's where my box hI" cried \ Lord Dane. " Young Beecher told William he had heard the Castle contained such, but I doubted it. And that's why I have been waiting for you. I thought you'd be sure to know. It*a strange my father never told me of them."

4k I don't think he cared much to allude to them : there was an old tale that one of the lords of Dane had been in league with smugglers," replied Mr Apperly. "It was partly through accident that he informed me. I showed the place to the present lord after he came into the title."

44 Very well. How can we best get at that box, Apperly ?" 44 He may have destroyed it," was the answer.

"I think not. He could not open if, wanting the key, which is a sure one. William had it in. his pocket-book whea he was saved. And to break it open might cause more noise and trouble than would be convenient to give, in a household, to a stolen thing;."

41 And what was in the box ?" asked Mr Apperly.

"Insteid of asking particulars, which may be left till later, suppose you apply yourself exclusively to the matter in hand," suggested Lord Dane, with a touch of the Dane peremptoriness. " How is this box to be got out o ' the Castle ?" 41 1 s<?e only one way, my lord: your declaring yourself. Once you show yourself at the Castle, you are its master."

44 Ah ! but I'd rather get the box first, if there's a possibility of doing it," remarked Lord Dane. "I wish I had a clever detective here ! They find their way to everything." 41 there's one in Danesheld at this moment," said Mr Apperly. " What his business here may be, I don't know, but I saw him pass my office this afternoon, and recognised him : he did some business for me once."

The lawyer spoke in all unconsciousness of recent events, or that the detective had been for nearly a week at the Castle ; Ravensbird listened, equally ignorant that Mr Blair, the great London banker, could be the gentleman alluded to.

" Could u't you get him. to me?" said Lord Dane.

"I might try," replied Mr Apoerly. "He may have left again, for all I can tell ; if not, I don't know where to look for him."

41 Go out and try," urged Lord Dane. "I must have that box; and there's my son in custody for felony ; things are coming to a pretty piss. Go at once, sir," he added, with all the authority of a Dane, 44 and don't open the budget to the man yourself; leave that for me to do."

The lawyer had no choice but to obey. No end of curiosity was racking his brain, and the temptation to look into Mrs Ravensbird's parlor and have "just a word with her" was irresistible. The motive was not either great or good, but it wa3 destined to be rewarded. Standing there, talking to Mrs Ravensbird, was Mr Blair. The lawyer seemed to come in for nothing but surprises.

14 It's my Lord Dane's banker, Mr Blair,'' said Sophie, glancing significantly at Mr Apperly as she mentioned the title. "He has been visiting his lordship at the Castle."

Mr Apperly had heard my lord's banker was visiting him; but— this the banker? He looked at the detective : and the latter, see n ; he was recognised, quietly made a siga to him, aud placed his finger on, his lips.

Mr Blair's business in Danesheld was over. As Lydney, through the precipitancy of Squire Lester, was in custody, Bent must deal with that adventurer now. Mr Blair could not altogether fathom things ; he and Lord Dane entertained adverse opinions on trifliig points, aud they parted coolly. Mr Blair, on his way to the station, bad called in to say a word of adieu at the Sailors' Rest and to eip a final petit verre. The lawyer took him aside ; said that a elknt of his, staying at present in that very inn, had need of the services of a detective, and inquired of Mr Blair if he would then see him.

4> l must premise that you will have to act against Lord Dane, though in what manner I do not precisely understand myself," observed the lawyer. " Will your private feelings allow you to do so ?"

"An officer must have no private feelings," was Mr Blair's reply. 44 Lord Dane demanded a detective from town, and I was sent dawn. My business with him is concluded ; and if I am required by another party, I have neither plea nor wish for refusing, whether my services may be put in requisition against Lord Dane, or against any other lord. I am at your service."

They went upstairs at once. Lord Dane was then standing by the fire, ta:king to Ravensbird, who, by the way, might have been surprised at the banker's devolving into a detective, had it been in his nature to be surprised at anything. Mr Appsrly remarked with glee that he had soon found his man, and introduced him as Mr Blair.

41 Sir," said the peer, turning upon him his fine face and form, " I have need of

advice and assistance. I have been wronged by Herbert Dane — Lord Dane, as he ia called — whom, I hear, you have beea visitinp. Can you aid me ?'• 41 1 do not know," was Mr Blair's reply. 44 1 can inform you whether anything can be done if you will put nic in possession of the circumstances. Mr Home, I believe ?" 41 No, sir. When I was in want of a temporary name, I called myself Home; but it may be dropped now. I am Lord Dane."

The detective gave a sort of cough ; impressed with the belief that the gentleman before him was laboring under a mania, and required a keeper rather than a police officer. His eye glanced at Mr Apperly. "Hi 3 lordship says right," observed the latter. "He is the true Lord Dane."

"The true veritable William Henry Lord Dane, of whom you may have heard," continued the peer. " You look astonished, Mr Blair : I thought police officers were surprised at nothing. You may probably have learnt, M* Detective, that Captain the Honorable William Henry Dane went over the cliff one moonlight night, by accident or by treachery, and lost his life; that his body, turned up by the eea some weeks afterwards, was buried in the family vault ?"

" I have heard this," replied Mr Blair. :i Bruff, the butler at the Castle, a sociable spirit if encouraged, has been fond of en* tertaimnp me with various items of the family's history. All in good faith : he is proud to tell laudatory tales of the Danes."

" Well, sir — but have the goodness to take a seat while you listen," interrupted the peer, waving his hand in the grand Dane fashion to a chair opposite his own seat on the sofa. "I, William Henry Dane, did not die in that fall ; I was saved, and carried to America in a friend's yacht, and I have lived there ever since, always believing that the peer who succeeded my father, and reigned here at Dine Castle, was my elder brother, Geoffrv Dane. Sir, he who threw me over the cliff was Herbert Dane, at present called Lord Dane."

The detective raised his eyes a little, but did not otherwise interrupt.

"I saw English journals occasionally," continued Lord Dane. " I knew that my mother was dead, that my father was dead, and that 4 Geoffry, Lord Dane,' as the papers called it, succeeded him and reigned ; and it rever occurred to me to suspect it was not my brother Geoffry. Had I known it was Herbert, and that I myself was the true Lord Dane, the first and fleetest steamer would have brought me over. I had not been friendly with, my brother Geoffry ; nevertheless I wrote to him after his (supposed) succession ; I got no reply to that letter, and I resented it in my heart with a haughty resentment, and would not write asjain. Ah ! how prone we are to indulge such feelings ! punishment is sure to overtake us sooner or later. After the lapse of years, when I found my health failing, I deemed it right to return home at once ; I had never heard of Lord Dane's marriage, and my son, after me, was the direct heir. We took our passage in th« Wind ; my poor servant was drowned in her, but I and my son were saved from the wreck, as you may have heard •"

"Your son?" Mr Blair interrupted, speaking for the first time.

" Yes, sir, my son," returned the narrator, his choler rising. "The gentleman who has been ordered into custody to-day by George Lester, on a charge of midnight plundering ; he is ray son."

44 He, William Lydney ?" returned the detective, as if doubting the assertion. " He, and no other, sir. He is the Honorable William Dane, one of your future peers."

" By Jove!" exclaimed Mr Blair, astonished for once in his life.

" William happened to have hi 3 pocketbook about him when we were saved. In it were letters of credit and other papers, so that we have been at no inconvenience of that nature. And now you are naturally wondering why I did not at once declare myself. I will tell you. For many hours I was so sick and shaken that I could only remain quiet and avoid excitement. Before that was over, I learnt, to my unbounded astonishment and vexation, that it was Herbert Dane who had succeeded instead of my brother. I thought it necessary to be c utious ; I continued very ill, fearing excitement, which ig so pernicious to my complaint, and I was hopingthe box would come up from the sea. My early marriage, sir, had been a private one. I married in Canada, when I first went out, the daughter of a French merchant who had settled there. She was wedded to me in secret, unknown to her father, whose hatred to the Eoglish was so great that any attempt to obtain his consent would have been hopeless. My wife lived on unsuspected at her father's* house, making plausible absences from it occasionally. During one of these William was born, and was christened Geoffry William Lydney. Her father died, leaving her avery large fortuue, aad close upon it she died, and the money became my son's. [ am giving you only the heads, Mr Detective," broke off Lord Dane; " there's no time for the details, I had no particu-

lar motive for concealing ray marriage from my own family, save that I knew there would be great reproach, in store for me on account of my wife being a merchant's daughter. When I wa9 last at home I disclosed the fact of my being a widower to Lady Adelaide Errol, whom I wag then wishing to marry. I did not tel! her of the boy; but I should have declared all openly both to her and my family before the preliminaries of my marriage with her 'were agreed upon — in fact, the settlements would have necessitated it. Well, I was pitched over the cliff: that is, I and Herbert Dane were scuffling together, and an unlucky blow of his — not an intentional one, I am sure — sent me over. I was found by my friend Colonel Moncton, carTied on board his yacht, and thence on to America. All that is of the past ; it need not be enlarged upon ; but I come now to the point. That box, cast up from the wreck, is, I. know, in Dane Castle : how can I get it out of it?"

Mr Blair drew his chair a few inches nearer Lord Dane : his part was beginning now.

"Herbert Dane must have recognised the box. My mother gave it me when I first went out with my regiment to Canada, and the very day I was putting my papers and best treasures in it, Herbert Dane, then a young boy of ten or so, stood by and helped me. I remember that the cross on the box surmounting the three V's particularly drew his attention ; and my mother told him how she had once lent the box to a brother of hers, and it came back to her thus decorated. Why, sir, that box is valuable as a family relis, if for nothing else ; but its present contents are to me priceless, for my son's sake."

" Permit me," said Mr Blair, interposing. " Will your lordship inform me what its contents were when you had it on board ?" "They were varied, sir. Papers and documents relating to my property in America, and to that of my son. My will was also in it. All these can be replaced ; but it might be less easy to replace the testamentary papers of my marriage and son's birth. And. sir, if that birth were questioned, if it could not be proved, Mr Herbert Dane would be my legal heir, and succeed to the position he has so long unjustly enjoyed. That box has been the of my remaining on in this house in secrecy and seclusion," continued Lord Dane. I never intended, you may be sure, to return home otherwise than openly, a 9 my own proper self; but the moment the life- boat had saved us— for which we may thank young Lester — came the knowledge that we were thrown on this coast — Danesheld. I gave William a hint to be quiet ; I was feeling so ill ; and afterwards, as I have told you, the news burst upon me that he who reigned as baron was Herbert Dane: and next came hia theft of the box."

"He could not possibly have known the contents of the box then," observed Mr Blair, musingly. " What was his motive for taking it, I wonder?"

" I don't know, My theory is this : that the sight of the box frightened him ; that some vague lear attacked him of the past being about to be brought to light— l mean as to bis share in my supposed death. I don't krow what else it can have been : a man with a secret remorse on his conscience is always in fear, more or less ; and the sight of the box must have recalled me forcibly to his remembrauce. Perhaps Lady Adelaide Lester disclosed my early -marriage to him, and he may have feared that an heir would turn up to depose him."

" Your lordship speaks of a letter you wrote to your brother : do you think Mr Herbert Dane received that, and knows you are in existence ?" " I can't tell. Will you, now that you are in possession of my story so far — and these witnesses," pointing to Ravensbird and Mr Apperly, "will co-roborate ithelp me with your advice as to the regaining possession of the box ?" "Certainly I will." " Good. Will you also get my son released irom custody ?" "Yes, I think I can do that. Upon condition that he will, to myself privately, account for his presence last night with those men in Mr Lester's house."

. Lord Dane threw up his head. "I know nothing about it," he slid, haughtily; •'but I do know that William i 3 of the kindest and most honorable nature. All his spare time is spent in looking after that ill-used son of Mr Lester's— in trying to keep him straight, poor fellow ; and I dare say he was alter him last night. I'll give you a pencilled line to him, telling him to confide in you. He may do it ?" questioned L">rd Dane : "I mean as to this unhappy young Lester ?" "In all security. I'll listen a? a friend, not as a detective. Perhaps I had better go there at once, while I think about the other matter, upon which I will give your lordship my adviue when I come back."

Meanwhile William Lydney — if we may still call him so — sat waiting in the stationhouse, in the pri?oner's room. Not caring to disturb his father with the news of his incarceration, he had done nothing but

despatch messengers for Mr Apperly. Th sudden opening of the door gave him hop? that the lawyer had at length come ; bu it proved to be only Lord Dane's banker Mr Blair.

" I brinar you a line from Lord Dane, 1 ' began Mr Blair, putting the folded papet in his hand.

William looked at it, and then at hi: visitor.

" From whom did youpav ?'

" From the true Lord Dane," was thf answer, given in a low tone. v And 3 believe I have now the honor of speakin* to the future lord. Your father, in tha note, bids you confide in me — he has dom so. Perhaps it may be in my power to order your release." " But what can you possibly have to d' with it ?" exclaimed the prisoner. " You are a friend of— of him at the Castle — his town banker."

"You have been flourishing in Danesheld under false colors, Mr Dane ; so have I. I am not Lord Dane's banker— the title will slip out— and how the report got wind fa more than I can say. lam one of the chief detective officers of the police force. Your father has called in my aid to assist him, and I am ready to assist yon. First of all : What took you to Mr Lester's with those companions last night ?" " I cannot explain ; I cannot tell you anything about it," was the quick response. "You were not with them ?— joining with them ?"

"I !" returaed William Dane, a? hausrhtily as any Dane had ever spoken. " You intimated but now your cognisance of my rank. I do not forget it, I assure you, neither am I likely to disgrace it." " Will you give me your reasons for not confiding in me ?" " I don't object to do that. It is because I could not declare the truth without compromising other people."

"Just so: you allude to yourjg Lester, Mr Dane. But now, I give you my promise that anything you may say shall not harm him. I have not been in Dtnesheld without acquiring an insight iuto its gossip ; it lies in my business to do so ; and I know and su*pect nearly as much about that misguided youn<r gentleman as you can tell me. I fancy he was the chief actor in that affair last night, riot you. Though how he could so far forget himse.f as to go stealing his father's plate, does surprise me."

William Dane saw that the best plan would be to confide the whole truth to the experienced man before him. And he did so. Poor ill- judging Wilfred Lester— though worse judged by others than he deserved, emphatically pronounced his friend — had not broken in after the silver, but after his own deed ; it was in defending the silver from attack that the discovery took place : he told it all.

" These facts oujjht to be confided to Squire Lester," observed Mr Blair. "For his son's sake he cannot pursue this."

" I am not sure but Squire Lester would deem it all the more reason for pursuing it," was the reply. "He is bitterly set against his son. No, I'd rather stay where I &m than betray Wilfred Lester. He saved my life and my father's. " " You seem wonderfully easy under your captivity," remarked Mr Blair, gaz'ng at the calm and good-looking face. "A man with his conscience at pcice is generally easy under most circumstances. As to the accusation against me, I have only to point to the Sailors* Kest, and say ' there's the true Lord Dane come home to assume his rights, and you may know me for his son.' Danesheld would soon scatter the charge to the winds."

" I think I can scatter it myself, so far as your detention goes," returned Mr Blair. " Come with me."

He led the way into the front room, where Bent sat writing. The latter got up sharply at seeing his prisoner cwrae out. That he secretly favored young Lydney was true ; but not to the length of showing him outward favor, now he was committed.

"I am about to relieve you of your prisoner, Bent," quietly observed Mr Blair. "This gentleman has satisfied me of his innocence, and he must be set at liberty." '• Where's the authority for it ?" asked Bent, after a pause of blank consternation.

" Your authority is that you are bound to obey my orders,'* was the conclusive reply. Ik But how am Ito answer to my Lord Dane and to Squire Lester ?" cried the unhappy inspector, believing himself to be an excessively ill-used man. " They'll be on to me with all sorts of pains and penalties." '•Refer them to me," said Mr Blair. " Pass out, air." He held the door open as he spoke, and bowed to the ex-prisoner to precede him. There was a suspicion of deference in the bow that caught the attention of the inspector. Had he possessed ten eyes he could not have stared away his perplexity Mr Lydney looked back, laughing. "It's all right, Beat. The time may come when you will find it so."

(To be continued. J