CHAPTER XIII.—GEOFFREY'S APPEAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2523, 23 July 1902, Page 63

CHAPTER XIII.— GEOFFREY'S APPEAL.

Now that Geoffrey was able to go out by himself, he was not long in making his way to Joan, and pouring into her ear a full account of his discoveries. To his surprise, he found her not only depressed—-; which he had expected — but a. little cold. "Why, Joan," he said at last, "you aref not half so nice to me now as you were when I was ill."

"You needed comforting then," she said, with a smile ; "but you don't need it now."

"But I need loving just as much as ever," he said, and threw himself down »H_a cushion at her feet; so. that he could jlook up into her face. She touched bis ( ?hair caressingly, with one hand, but there jura* a new look of sorrowful resolution in <her eyes. -

"I love you," she said, "and I like to \ell you so. I like to hear you say that Won love me, too ; but we must make up aur minds, Geoffrey, that these acknowledgments must have an end." | "An end, my darling? With our lives ; fcut not before." !. ''Long before," she said implacably. "At |>nee, or almost at once ; and until the •load that hangs over me is cleared away." i "There is no cloud." | "There is a cloud of suspicion, of doubt in my truth and honesty. I can read it in aunt's face every time I see her. jfihe thinks that I had something to do /with the disappearance of the diamonds. *How she came io that conclusion I can't guess, unless the cloak had something to I&o with it." ' "That's it, most likely," said Geoffrey, /with decision. "My uncle has got hold of a little rat of a man called Tanner, who likes to see how clever he is, and to propound theories that nobody elffe dreams ,of. He has cross-examined the servants, and Lucy had something to say abont the cloak. But nothing has come of it." "Just this much," said Joan — "tfcat they think me unworthy to be your wife." "My dearest, you are growing morbid. .Theyhave only to look at your face, and 4o see what you are — my pearl of truth Mid fiweetness.' "Don't try to deceive me, Geoffrey, dear. I am sure that Lady Rockingham does not want you to marry me. Ye&, you need not deny the truth, for I can read it in grour face. And when she knows that you saw the clasp in my possession, and that it afterwards mysteriously disappeared, she ■will say that I have kept it, and that I was tts thief!"

*■ I think we know too well who is the (inief fov her to be able to say that. We must have done with concealments and lialf-truths now, Joan. The time has come ior us to " place the whole matter in the hands of fhe police. I believe we have a strong enough case to justify the imvnediate arrest of this man Townley, or Cronin, oi whatever his true name may W."

'"If he is arrested,"' said Joan under her breath, "will not Mrs Townley fall under euipicion, too?" ' "Very probably. The discovery that she is his wife simplifies the matter very niuch. It must have been she who met iiini at the castle well, and put the diamonds and the money into his hands. I fonder I did not see that long before. (Nina Townky was the thief in the first (instance. Of that I feel certain. '

"It is terrible to think of a woman yon have known and been rather friendlywith as a thief." ' "You were never very friendly with her, my dear. Your true instincts came into j>lay, and prevented you from thoroughly trusting her. lam afraid it will be a great shock to Bay aimt, who liked and trusted her."

"Do you think the money that you saw ,was stolen also?"

"Yes, that is equally certain. The gold and notes were in an escritoire which stands in my aunt's dressing room. Mi's Townley Must have walked in and helped herself."

"Can't we prevent the story from being made public, Geoffrey? Poor woman! she did it to save her husbivnd from want. And she is a person who thinks a great deal of the world's opinion. It will be agony to her to suffer open ehame."

"She deserves it, my dear. Would she not have put the shame on your shoulders if she could? Did she not try her level best to make my aunt suepect you? Oh, I see her little game now, and I shall rejoice in knowing that she is to be punished for it."'

"Geoffrey, that is vindictive."

"I cannot help it," he answered, kissing first one of her hands and then the other. "I do not profess any pity for her. She is dimply a criminal in my eyes ; and a dangerous one, too. I liope she will be shut up, out of harm's way, for a good number of years." "Ob, don't, Geoffrey — don't say these things. Be sorry for her, even if she has to be exposed and puni«hed. Pity her all the more, because she does not know that she is doing wrong." "My sweet, it is like you to pity her, and I love you for doing it, but 1 cannot be quite unmindful of the fact that sh€ tried to transfer the blame to your shoulders. I believe she would have been delighted if my uncle had accused you of the crime. And think what we suffered ! Think how nearly she separated us for ever! 1 will try not to be too hard on her. and even to spare her as much at possible ; but. upon my word, Joan, I cant go so far a& to feel particularly Borry for her. " Joan ftigbed and lookeft down. Her face wa» (jrave and gentle, but she pleaded at* more. Perhaps*. «he knew ihat Geoff i p y wix» titUra \vrX\yr than his w« rd.

"You r.ttftx'Ut, do you not. dear, to my flotr l*lltttyr tnj uric'c the whole stoiy a*

"Oh, y*!, i»c far ;i* lam concerned. But th'Xl Utittif* ttt* \nu V to what I was going to s-.iv t,'«nl Hii .J.iriii'M a.n.l Lady Rockiri^ham »»«• tally < unviiiccd that I have had tmlhnt-/ f'> <!<, with tin- 10-s of their money .iti<l j<v.<b I v. ould rather not consider lint i.!'-ii- i- fi'u ti lid between us Geoffrey " "Bui there is a Tii^'-d ul.i'l' \nti i«i,k" break." "A bond of l(.\o' Ah. vr : but m < must be silent about it \ <>v .re Si. JiUnes's Leir. You aie like .; -on to h"ii, and I will not m.r:y an/ inn- \\'i : family will not luvj M.d wu-t m;- " "Aunt Charlotte wa.s always tend of y.u. Joan." ' 'TondZ Wall* it is lather a weak word,

is it not? I want more than fondness. I want complete confidence, and a genuine, hearty love!"

"Joan, you have_twice sent me away in anger. Do you send me away a third time?"'

"Yes, for this is not in anger. I send you away now because I love you so dearly that I will not. allow myself to do you an injury. It would be an injury if I married you while your people think that I am a thief. "'

"They don't! They don't! Joan, Le reasonable."

"I am reasonable enough to see "what is the right thing to do. Now, Geoffrey, you must go and tell them everything, and ask them to forgive us for having kept back so many details for such a long time. It was your illness that complicated everything. My father objected to approaching Sir James Rockingham on the subject until you were well enough to corroborate what he said."

"It's a muddle from beginning to end."

'•We must try to get to know the exact truth, and then there will be no muddle."

"And then, when the whole thing is cleared up, you will keep your word? You will many me, darling?" "Yes, deal-, I will, when it is all clear and plain. But I sometimes think that this man Townley and his wife, and Cronin, who seems to be in the plot, are all too clever for us, and that we shall never find out the truth. ''

"We shall— indeed, we shall! Oh. if I could get hold of that fellow, I would force him to speak! " "He is probably out of the country by this time. A man does not wait to be arrested. I dare say he hasi disposed of the stones in Amsterdam, and does not mean to come back to England ; and Mrs Townley will join him some day, with the Indian clasp." "She, at least, has not left England. I saw her in the stieet to-day. She wns driving, and she bo^ed to me with a «mile — such a curious smile, Joan ! It was defiant and disdainful — the smile of a conqueror."' "She has not conquered us yet," s^ald Joan.

And the colour stole into her cheeks.

"And, please God, she shall not do so V remarked Geoffrey, rising to his feet. "I'll unmask her. I will get to know the history of those diamonds, if I have to go to the ends of the earth ! I am confident that we shall succeed — in time !"

"Ah, in time !" said Joan. And there was a wealth of significance in the sadness of her tone.

"You don't mean," said Geoffrey, rather anxiously, "that you are going to forbid me the' house altogether? That would be foolish, because I must come and consult you fron 1 , time to time. We must continue to be friends, Joan, if we are nothing else."' "It would be very much better if you did not come,"' she said, trying to avert her eyes from his eager, ardent face. "Indeed it wouldn't. It would give rise to reports that I had quarrelled with you. And we don't mean to quarrel again, do we, Joan? We love each other and trust each other too much for that. We won't call ourselves ' engaged,' if you like ; but I shall com* every day to tell you how 'the case' is going on."' "It if? a very bud plan," she answered, shaking her pretty brown head ; but Geoffrey only laughed and kissed her, and said that she was his only joy in life.

And yet. although he laughed and jested, she knew, in some indefinable way. that he was worried and anxious, and that the position was a difficult one. both f^r her <tud for himself. If only there was some v.ay out of "'the muddle,' as- he had called it." without the publicity of a police court. She was not afraid for herself, but she was thoroughly distressed on account of Nina Townley, whom she had known ; and of Lady Rockmgham. who would be hurt and shocked at the discovery of so much treachery on the part of one who had pretended to be an intimate friend. Was therp anytliing that she — Joan — could do to make tilings easier tor anyone concerned? She sat and thought for a long time w ithout coming to a conclusion. The only mode of action that occurred to her seemed lamentably futile. Sh© could not hope that it would produce any good effect ; but sLe could try. Meanwhile. Geoffrey had gone home, resolved to lay all the facts before Sir James, and let him deal with them as he liked. He himself was likely, he knew, to come in for some severe criticism ; but he did not think of this very much. He wa« absorbed rather in a consideration of the bL-st «•<;} m which to place the facts as they respected Joan.

Sir James was out when (ieoffrey inquired for him, and his aunt was out also He loitered restlessly fiom one room to another, feeling too unsettled for any steady occupation ; bnt on looking into the back di awing room, which was curtained off front the larger one in front, he wae amazed to find it tenanted by a tall, slight woman, whose bick was turned to Geoffrey as he entered, and who seemed to be reading a letter which she had lifted from the table where Lady Rockmgham conducted her coiiespondence.

Ceofl'iv\ stood htill fi.i a moment or two, Li whole being swayed by a feeling of aiver and abhonence, which was new in his exjvrienc-fc — new, at anyrate, with icgaid to any worn. in At last he advanced tow, uds her: and fc he. on hearing his step, tinned qir.cUy. half concealing the letter m her hand.

"Oh, how you st trtled me, Mr Bian- '\ tl ' ' fhr* -j d. with <i good dfal of srtiig- ' (rtrl. i r,-i-K\r) ing t)u p. sjrjoii in vt luch Le Lad mii ]>! l-i-l her. "I reaily no time i > re .d in > letter before I came out. m> I took llk- i.pp.iitiitiit} of leading it lifci'e v\Lik 1 waited fui Lidy Rockiiigh.un " Shi lu_'in to tin list it into ht-r pocket. ')iii Cj<?< ffrev hrld out !ns hand. " 1 can't sl )ci ke hands f.,i the lnonitiu." 'he siiil. with .i li.'Ll luile laugh "W.t't till I tu.d im pocket. Way do dieas-

makers always stow them away at the back?"'

"Excuse me. I was not about to shake hands with you,'' said Geoffrey, in a voice which vibrated with wrath. "I held out my hand for the letter which you have this moment taken from my aunts table. You need not trouble to find your pocket. VY T o>i can hand the letter to me."'

"What do you mean, Mr Brandon .' ' said Nina Townley, vritk changing colour and flashing eyes. "If you think you can insult me with impunity, you are mistaken. I have no letter of your aunt's in my

possession "Show me the one you are hying to get into your pocket, or I will take it from you!" said Geoffrey, doggedly. "It is no use to deny the plain truth, Mrs Townley. I saw the crest on the page as I came in, and I recognised it as one which my aunt showed me this morning. It is from the Duchess of Wavertree ; and if I am mistaken, I will apologise. T

He fctill held out his hand ; and Nina, still turning white and red by turns, tried to laugh him out of his seriousness "Well, really, since you will have it, I too saw the" crest, and picked up th 9 letter ; but I haven't read a. \s ord of it. It was your coming in so suddenly that made me give way to a cowardly impulse, and try to hide it away."' "Thank you," Geoffrey said, as he received the crumpled paper from her hands. He opened it out, glanced at the flaring red crest, then bowed satirically, and placed the lettei once r^ce on the table. Nina watched him with frightened eyes. There was something in his inannei which she could not understand.

"It might be as well, ' he said, standing straight and tall before her, and looking straight * into her turquoise-coloured eyes, "if you were also to restore some other portions of Lady Kockingham's property."' "I don't know what you mean." Nina said, passionately. "You talk like a madman !*'

"I think you know very well what I mean. You know, for instance, that I consider it dangerous to leave you alone in a room which contains valuable property. lam about to warn my aunt, as I have also warned Miss Carrington, that you are not the sort of person to be admitted in the absence of your hostess. I hope lam not too brutal ; but I wish yon thoroughly- to understand what I

"You are insolent !"' said Nina, panting a little, and turning very pale. "I should be sorry to be insolent.. But matters have come to such a pass that I, for one, do not intend to keep silence any longer. Ido not know whether you will ever come here again ; but if j*ou come, would it' not be as well to tell the man to announce you by your right name?" That of Townley is "a good deal discredited."

"Townley is my name!" ehe said fiercely." "No — pardon me — Croniu. You are d;:ughter-in-law to the old man who lends money under pretext of keeping a curiosity shop" in Pimlico. Your husband, who preferred the name of Townley to Cronin, kas just come out of prison, and you are anxious to get him away from England with a modest competence sooner than let it be known that you are not a widow. I think I have stated the case fairly enough, have I not? ' Nina sat down, hid her face in Ler hands, and burst into teai&.

"Oh, Mr Brandon, how can you be so cruel!'' she cobbed. "How did jou leain mv terrible — terrible "fetory? Can you not sympathise with me in wanting him to leave the country? And will you not keep my secret?"' "It is" quite natui.'l that you should wish him to go ; but I surely need not point out, Mrs Cronin, that one must be careful •is to th* 1 means by which one procures money sometimes? You may involve yourself and him in consideiable difficulties if you do not look about you and try to make vouibelf safe."'

She raided her tear-stained face from her hands, and looked at him furtively. She began to see that he knew a good deal more than he chose to say.

"How could I make myself safe?"' she askerl, slowly.

"There is bitch a thing as turning Queen's evidence," said Geoffrey. "You could throw that rascal over, and abjure hi« ways. You could even produce the property that you handed over to Lim at the castle well, when you went to meet your husband "

"You he ! I never went to meet him ! It was your precious Joan ! '

'"No. it was not Joan ; and urn know that as well as I .do. To thiow blame (n an innocent woman is not the way to get out of your difficulties Mis Cronin ' "What do you want".'" «he asked, afttr a moment's pause. Her lips were white as death. She looked as though she weie about to faint, and even Geoffrey's heart was .slightly stirred to pity. But he steeled himself against Ler, and stated his requirements. It must be confessed that they were large, but Nina U.stened to them without a word of remonstrance. Peihaps his teims weie bettei than a:iy fui w hich she had evei dared to hope.

( HAPTER XIV

—A COUNT KH PLOT

"What I want }im to do.' said Gioffiej. decidedly, ""is. fit«t and foiemo«t. to restore the diamonds. 1 suppose it may b_> said that I am compounding a felony v hen [ make this proposition, but I (ant help it T piopose that you keep the liv n<:\ which \ou took fiom my aunt's c-v'itiiie. and !■ t u< have the stones, w.'ii the Indian c1..-j> 1 an; perfectly certain that m\ iraJe »nd aunt, will gladly ab:m (ti.n auv thought of jjriise.iitn.n if the}- <.;>n i;e: b.nk what they value so much more tli, in nioiie\ n rtvenge" '•'Sou h:\ no \i ,t; of proving th it T i\.r tomhfd tlie^e tl.pi_-s," s ai d >h<, Tmvule_\ . s]kii-])l\

"I thin'v «c ha\p. We luivp at .uiy ia»s sufficient evident lo desliox J our

character, even if we! did not get a conviction. But I think, personally, that you would be found guilty." Perhaps the implied doubt of positive proof emboldened her, for she said, almost flippantly :

•'It is not so easy, perhaps, as you think to pi ore an innocent woman's guilt, llr Brandon."'

'"Thank God, no !" said Geoffrey, in a deep voice of intense earnestness. "For m that case, your efforts against Miss Carrington might have been more successful than they are." Nina sat silent for a minute or two, then tiied to resume her usual manner.

"Is that- sail? I might as well be going, then. Lady Rockingham does not seem to have come in."

"You will not go, I think, until you have given, me your- answer." said Geoffrey quietly. "Will you restore the diamonds?"

"Good gracious, Mr Brandon, what non*ense you talk ! How can I restore what I have not got?"

"Will you put us- on the track of the person or persons who have got them? Will you give me a full and complete account of the way in which you became possessed of them?"

"And if I say I will not — or, at least, that I would not if I could?"

"Then I shall put the whole matter in the hands of the police. And I shall also let Lndy Rockingham and certain other people know that you have deceived them, by passing yourself off as a w idow, and that you fire the wife of the ex-convict "

"Please don't go on !" said Nina haughtily. "I understand exactly what you mean. You tin eaten me with social itiin if I do not promise to perform what you desire, whether possible or impossible. A very reasonable way of treating me."

"I do not ask impossibilities,"' said Geoffrey. "A full confession would smooth your path very much. Yoti could help in recovering the diamonds by giving us some information as to what has become of them.'

"Possibly I could, if I knew myself,"' said Nina scornfully. "I know nothing about your diamonds, or your money, or your Indian clasp! If you think it a biave thing to threaten a defenceless woman because she will not lend herself to your schemes. I can only say that you are different from the ordinary English gentleman. I have nothing more to say."

"You refuse my terms? Mind, I offer safety for yourself and your hu&band — ever, for your husband's father, who sold the clasp to Major Carrington, and probably has the diamonds in his possession." "I am sorry that I know nothing about your diamonds Mr Brandon. lam bure I wish I did. if I could do any kindness to dear Lady Rockingham in connection with..- them. But your remarks ion the siibject are utterly ludicrous, as well as insulting. Have the goodness to let me

pass. "You absolute!}- refuse to buy your own safety?"

"I am in no danger. j Geoffrey bowed, and drew back. "I have given you your chance." he said, "because Joan Carrington urged me to pity you ; but a& you refuse to be helped, I shall let justice have its way."

Mrs Townley broke into a tone of angry speech.

"Joan Canington wanted you to pity me? She .shall be pitiable enough herself before I have done with hei ! You will be sorry yet that you insulted me. I will make her suffer — and you through her!"'

"It is useless to recriminate,'' .said Geoffrey, with a shrug of his shoulders. "I can only say that 1 shall protect Joan (o the best of my ability, and shall not spare anyone who injures her." But she swept by him as though she had not heard. And he felt a little humiliated in his own eyes to think that he had failed in the attempt to frighten Ler into a confession when he had not the means of compelling it.

(To be continued.)