Found Dead.

Otago Witness, Issue 902, 13 March 1869, Page 20

Fo und Dea d.

B? THE AUTHOE OF " BLONDEL PAEVA." CHAPTER XV. — THE CHAR.COAX SKETCH. Notwithstanding that Charles Steen cried out in a loud voice, "Mr Blissett, is that you, sir V as his footsteps hurried by, no answer was returned by that gentleman. But in a few moments they were heard returning, and he presented himself at his room-door. Charles might well have asked " Is that you, sir 1" even after he had seen his patron. Always thin, the painter seemed to have- shrunk to the dimensions of a skeleton ; his trousers hung about his legs as though they had been wooden ones ; even his thin hair was noticeably more scanty than it had been ; his eyes were sunk in their sockets, and had broad black rims beneath them, and they flamed crosswise upon him from their cavernous cells with tinmistakeable suspicion, terror, hate. " How long have you been here V gasped he. "Not twenty minutes, sir. Mrs Maude Bent me a telegraph " " 1 know all that." (She had met her lodger as he came in, and explained that much, and to that delay alone was Charles Steen indebted for having been able to reach his room without detection. ) ' ' She is a fool, an idiot. Have you been here, in your room, ever since you came '?" <l Well, sir, I was very dusty, and a little tired ; and soap and water" (he had thrown his coat off for the second time) 41 are very grateful after travel. " " Ay. Your impatience to see how our picture was getting on did not tempt you, then, to go into the studio V' Those slanting eyes seemed to read his very soul, aa the young man answered, with a forced smile: "Indeed, sir, I never imagined you would have gone on with the picture by yourself ; for Lucius Syila was finished, you know, before I left ; and for the other figure, I flattered myself you would have to wait for me. How did you manage ? Have you progressed far 2* and putting on his coat, Charles made as though he would have gone into the painting-room. " Never mind that now," said Mr Blissett, biting; his nails, and with a glance at his y,oung friend that showed his mind was not yet altogether satisfied. "Youj must want your breakfast even more than I ; there, ring for coffee. And now you are here — albeit there was not the slightest occasion for your c rniing ; I am quite ■well, as you see, or at least quite c >nvalescent—tell me how matters have gone on at Allgrove." * { Well, sir, the inquest " <{ Damn the inquest !" exclaimed the painter, passionately. v How dare yon vex me by alluding to it ] It is a disgrace to tlie family that such a thing was ever permitted. Has not the — that infamous veruicfc given universal offence ?" "It has indeed, sir. Mr Mellish and all the gentlemen of the county are very angry a' out it, and very sorry also, for Mrs Blissett's sake." " Just so ; very propor. As the head of the family I must devise some means of letting them know how I appreciate their good feeling. It was a great simck to myself, of course. I daresay I w&y have done something at first sufficiently ridiculous to alarm Mrs Maude ; she is not to blame, perhaps, after all ; and I am glad to sco you back again, Steen ; it's rather lonely here" — he looked over his shoulder towards his own apartment with a half-shudder, then added with effort, "Well, and how's Christie ?' il She seems to me a pattern of goodness, sir : she attends to everything like a grown-up mistress of the house, and yet is always by the side of her sick mother. By-the-by, she bado me give you this letter " "Umph!" said the painter, taking it into hand, without, as it seemed, any particular eagerness to possess himself of its" conu°nts. " There is do letter from the wid — n"*y sister- in law, then ?" "No. sir; hut that note was written — so Miss Christie said—at her mother's dictation." "Ay; you, yourself, it seems, were admitted to the sick-room, were you not ?" " I was, sir." Charles was about to add, " more than once," but he checked jVimself. •''And what did my sister-in-law say?" ; " Su c acknowledged gratefully the kind expression 8 conveyed in your letter, and expressed' rC^ as . well '^surprise at ■ your severe incu" uos $ on r~ , .. „ ! "Why surprise*' interrupted the , painter, sharply. «J« *so wonderful . that a man who has been knocked about , in the world as [ have bee. n fch ° uld be " taken suddenly unwell? Does *\% *up- : pose mv constitution to be of iron . ' "Well, sir, I imagine that her husban ** | • was d. very strong and healthy man, and 111 1 neve^r having known him to be ill, sheu •cbacludeß otfror folks to be like him. '

That very fact, doubtless, made his death more terrible to her, more unexpected, and, as it were, unaccountable/ " And yet it seems to have been accounted for very easily, poor fellow, was it not ?" observed Mr Frederick, who had now got the letter open before him, although, so far from perusing it, he was i earnestly gazing over the top of it at his , young friend while he awaited his reply. I " You don't mean to say that Mrs Blissett - called her husband's death unaccountt able?" I " Well, not exactly that, sir ; but I t fancy she was unsettled by that verdict : 1 'Found dead; but how he came by his i death 1 " : "I know all that, sir," exclaimed the s painter furiously ; " you need not insult i me by repeating it. Yes, it is enough to i annoy anybody, although why it should i unsettle them, 1 cannot imagine. What ' on earth did this poor lady say to make i you think she was unsettled ? Do you t mean that she was touched in the head ?"' "Nay, sir, she was quite in her right mind/ observed S een, gravely, " and gave me several messages for you concerning future arrangements. She has i resolved to leave the Hall at once, and take up her at'ode at Rill Bank. The house will be entirely at your disposal, she bade me say, notwithstanding that I said there was no hurry, within three weeks or so. I told her I was sure you would wish her to retain any articles of furniture, or whatever she might Beem loath to part with." " Quite right, quite right, Steen. Did she seem pleased with that arrangement — satisfied ?" " Perfectly, sir." ;t She expressed herself upon the whole then not unkindly towards me, eh 1 Of course, it is no matter to me, but how did she speak of me, Steen ?" "She gratefully acknowledged your good- will, sir, on Miss Christie's behalf as well as her own. As to anything unkind, Mrs Blissett would scarcely have spoken of you, in my presence, otherwise than with respect." " Ah, well, I don't know ; she used to quarrel with me like the devil. But I am gL.d she has forgotten all that. Let bygones be bygones. She shall have the furniture, tell her — for of course you will go down to Allerove again — Why do you stare ? Who e^se is to represent me at the funeral ? Good Heavens ! sir, am I j in a condition to bear such excitement ? I say she is to have what she likes. Don't stint her. — But here's a letter ! Why, they will take nothing. They ask permission to stay another ten days in the house ! They sue me as if I were some extortionate creditor, ay, or even anenaiu}/ from, ii'hnse linnrls flint will take no favor, nor even quarter " His eyes crossed one another frightfully as he said this. " 0 sir — 3lr Blissett, I am sure you are j mistaken," exclaimed the young man, eagerly. " Your sister in-law has no intention of rejecting your kind offices, believe mo. As for Miss Christie, why, as you said yourself, you are the only relative, save one, she has upon earth, and of course she looks to you for succour, protection, help of all sorrs." "What they acknowledge most," said the painter, knitting his brows, and paving no attention to the young man's words — " what they set-m, forsooth, to be most grateful for, h your presence, Mr Steen. t have exhibited my good-will to them, it appears, in nothing so much as sending you down as my envoy — that's -what Miss Christie delicately implies. I suppose she doesn't know I picked you up at a night refuge, does she V "No, sir ; she does not." Charles was crimson ; but Mr Blissett, still scowling at the open letter, did not observe his change of color ; he was busy with his own reflections, which ran something after this fashion: "Vv T hat does it matter I I can stop it all in a moment by telling these women what he is. And, in the meantime, this link between us will act as a conductor of good-will, sympathy, and all the rest of it. Yes." Then said he aloud : " Well, I am not sorry that they have taken afancytoyou, Steen, or believe you to be a — ha, ha !—! — a young gentleman. "But I need not warn you (for yon are a sensible lad) to bear in mind on which side your bread is buttered—to remember to which "branch of this family you belong. Not, of course that these relatives of mine and myself are otherwise than on the best of terms, futiiis in my interest— mine — that you are retained, aad not in theirs. Do you understand, sir V* Charles perceived, too laic, that ne naa committed a great error in showing his sympathy for the widow and her daughter. His patron's jealousy was aroused.^ "I have done you no discredit, Mr Bhssett, at Allgrove," said he, /irmly. "From the instructions I received from you I imagined that it was your wish to be cordial and friendly with your relatives, md I have tried my best to bring that Jt now seems that I misunderaoww!" excised $Jw

painter, -with sudden gaiety. " How you talk ! — so smoothly, and in such rounded periods ! You are certainly cut out for the pulpit, and perhaps I may send you there some day ; after which you shall be my private chaplain Oh, the newspaper, Mary— very good. Here, give it me." •With, an attempt at a careless -whistle, which died away in the first bar, Mr Blissett took up the Times, and ran his eye over its broad sheets. " Funds as they were : no news from abroad. — There are the leading articles for you ;'' and he threw half the newspaper across the table to his young friend, retaining the other for himself. There was silence for full ten minutes, during which the painter kept the half- sheet before his face, apparently immersed in its contents. " Come," said he suddenly, in a strange, husky voice, quite different from his usual cvn'cal drawl, " since you are here, Steen, let us go on with Lucim Sylla." v By all means, sir." Crumpling the newspaper in his pocket, Mr Blissett led the way into the studio, and there took up their positions as usual. In spite of a strong temptation to the contrary, Charles kept his eyes fixed on the painter, until an opportunity seemed to present i self of liberating them. Mr Blissett dropped his brush, and while he stooped to pick it up, the young man threw a rapid glance at the easel on which he had seen the charcoal drawing. It was erased ; not a recognisable line remained, but only a confused smudge, which showed how hastily, though completely, it had been obliterated. Quickly as his eyes returned to their duty, they found those of the painter already awaiting them. Charles felt his heart melt like water before their searching glance ; he knew that he was growing red and white by turns ; that his previous visit to the studio was discovered ; and the conviction flashed upon him — never to be removed — that in that moment he had involuntarily made this man his enemy. Mr Blissett said not a word ; but, aa though his lips were suddenly become dry and parched, he moistened them with his tongue ; this action, taken in connection with those basilisk eyes, reminded a beholder of the flicker of a serpent's forked sting. Presently, as he ■went on with his work, he carelessly put this question : t( Have you ever seen this Dr Fungus, Mr Steen ?" This Dr Fungus !— the man's name had never been so much as mentioned before. Charles was overwhelmed with astonishment, nay, terror ; and for the moment was really unable to reply further than by repeating the name in. a tone of wonder — ' f Dr Fungus, sir?" "Yes ; the idiot that led by the nose that parcel of fools, the jury. It's all in the Times here"' — he tapped his breastpocket luhich contained the paper — "I have just read it. A whipping at the cart's tail wo\ild do the fellow good. Have you ever seen him, I say V " Yes, sir." And Charles detailed the quarrel that he had witnessed between Mr Mellish and the little doctor. "It must have been very funny," said the painter, drily. "Bat this man's foolery has done more harm than he reckoned upon. My poor sister-in-law, as you say, is much put out about it. And in my present state of health such an annoyance has had an injurious effect : I am very ill, Steen." •' Indeed, sir, 1 did not say so before, lest it should trouble you, and you seemed to-wish to make yourself out quite strong again, but you look to me far from well. I do not -wonder at Mrs Maude having sent for me. " ""Yes, my constitution has suffered much," said Mr Blissetl, slowly ; " and these repeated shocks have been too much for it. My doctor says that I must go abroad, Steen, and at once. That -will make no difference to you. You will go back this afternoon to Allgrove, and, in conjunction with Mr Mellish — to whom I will give you a letter — look after matters there while lam away. On my return, I shall take a house of my own in London, when you will come up and make yourself useful." All this was said with the utmost deliberation, as though the speaker were unfolding a plan upon which he had long decided, yet the person addressed could not divest himself of the impression that all had been settled and arranged within the last five-and-twenty minutes at furthest. " I will give you some more money," continued the painter, "since I cannot tell when I shall return to England. Perhaps in a month, perhap3 not for half a' year. Your portmanteau is not unpacked, I hope ? — So much the better. This picture must remain as it is ; it is no use going on with it now. Come, let us leave off work, that I may at once begin my holiday." Without expressing any surprise (whatever he may have thought <5f them) at these unlooked-for arrangements, Charles followed his Efttroij i#to ihe. room.

" Hand me that Bradshaw, will you, Steen, and I will find out your train." Instead of being loath to part with him as on the previous occasion, it seemed aa if Mr Biissett was only bent upon getting his yonng friend out of the house.

" Oh, I know the time, sir. The train starts from Paddington at three o'clock."

" Yes ; but that was the wrong line," answered Mr Biissett, gravely. "I was so confused and worried, that I forgot that Harbrook Station, on the other railway, is more convenient than Chudleigh. It is a little further in point of distance, but nearer in that of time ; the road is so much better. Yes, you will go' to Harbrook ; and indeed, Mr Steen, you have no time to lose. I will send my instructions to Mr Hellish by post, and you will of course hear from me as to my movements." He tapped at the Tundow, and stopped a cab that happened to be loitering by. "Come," said he hurriedly, " there's a piece of luck. Let us take it as a good omen."

" I sincerely trust, sir, that change of scene and climate may set you tip," said the young man, earnestly. "You will let me know, at your earliest convenience, I hope, how you are getting on. — By-the-by, I have never even set eyes on Mrs Maude, who was so anxious about you." " Never mind her, Mr Steen ; she will survive not seeing you. She has an easy time before her, aa to her down-stairs lodger. To-morrow — perhaps to-night — I shall be in France ; next week in Italy. Yes ; I think I shall go to Kome. — Give Uncle Fred's love to Christie ; and my best regards to Mrs Blissett— Good-bye, Mr Steen ; good-bye." If he had not been going to renew his mission, and as it were with fresh credentials, at Allgrove, it would have really seemed to the young man that he was receiving his conge by being (not very politely) shown the door. However, expostulation, Bven if the task imposed upon him had been as unpleasant as it wa3 really welcome, was out of the question ; so be shook hands, and jumped into the cab. "To the South-western Railway Station," said Mr Blissett himself to the driver, from the front-door-step. And off went the cab. " Why is he so angry with me ? Why is he so suspioioxis of me ? Why on earth i 3 he so particular about my going by the »ther line]" thought Charles Steen, gloomily, as he jolted along. "Does he wish me to avoid that dreadful spot which Mr Mellish pointed out to me, for fear I should identify it with Great Heaven ! what does it all mean 1 It cannot — it is not possible, of course, that the thing can be anything more than a coincidence ; yet why, before he had read about that report of the inquest, or had heard about it — for anything, at least, that I know — from any soul alive, should he have drawn that charcoal sketch of Burslem Bottom V For it was the scene of his brother's murder, and no other, which the painter had sketched so faithfully that the young man had recognised it at the first glance.