THE BONDAGE OF HATE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1786, 4 November 1919, Page 2

THE BONDAGE OF HATE.

[All Rights Reserved.] By CAPTAIN FRANK n. SHAW, Author of "The LoTe-Tldes," "A Life's Devotion," etc. CHAI>TER X.—(Continued.) THE BUTLER'S STORY. "You are quite sure you heard nothing definite?" "I am a little deaf, sir, and on that night I was suffering from a cold, ■which made my hearing worse than ■usual, but I did think I heard Mrs Grenfell say: "I will not, not if I were to die The next minute. I will not." "You are quite sure these were •words ?'' "1 thought so, sir, but, as I said, my hearing was not so good as it might have been. I know that both ladies were very angry." "Hid you attempt any interference?" "I thought, sir, that if I presented myself the quarrel might subside, and I therefore tried the door, intending to make some excuse for my entrance, but the door was locked, and, though I Bhook the handle, it had no effect." "Did you see Mrs Grenfell or Miss Seymour again that night?" "I saw my mistress, sir, not Miss Seymour. When I laid out the evening cup of bovril, as was customary, Mrs Grenfell was alone in the drawingroom, and she told me there would be no need for a second cup, as Miss Seymour had retired." "And did you notice anything unusual about your mistress?" The butler hesitated again, and there was something like appeal in the glance he threw at Moira Seymour where she sit at the table. It was as though he asked her pardon for what he was about to say. "She seemed to be under a great fear, eir—she was white, and her teeth were thattering. When I asked her if there ■was anything more she require* she said no, but I don't think she heard my question." "How do you mean—a great fear?" "Well, sir, it is difficult to describe in so many words, but she seemed apprehensive. She looked behind her more than once, as if expecting to see someone there; and —and —no, I cannot put it more plainly than that." Mr Broadhead looked at Mr Leatham, and the solicitor for the defence got to his feet. "You are an Englishman, I presume, Mr Huron?" he said suavely. The butler looked at him in some bewilderment. "Yes, sir; I am an Englishman," he said slowly. "Born an Englishman?" "No, sir; naturalised." "And what was your original nationalitv—Swiss or German?"

"My parents were Italian, sir, but I was born in Nice, I believe. I went into service with an English family there as soon as I was ol<l enough, and since then I have been constantly in English service." "You have probably forgotten your native tongue by this time?" "Almost, sir. After speaking nothing but English for so many years one loses his hold of other tongues, to Bpeak." "Yes, yes. And how long were you in Mrs Grenfell's service?" "For several years —seven, J think, to be precise. From the time she took up her residence at The Manor." "You did not know her before, I take it? How were you engaged?" "I had never set eyes on my mistress to my conscious knowledge until the day I interviewed her in response to her advertisement in the 'Daily Telegraph.' " Leatham looked at Farquharson as if asking whether he desired any more questions put to the witness; but the soldier shook his head. He had built nothing on the fragmentary hope that had crept into his heart, and nothing had come of it. It was only a chance shot in the dark, in answer to that impulse which prompted him to lose hold of no thread, however trifling, that might serve to lead him to a solution. It was growing late; the chairman ■was consulting his watch impatiently. He held a brief consultation with his fellow-magistrates, and then spoke to the clerk. "The prisoner is remanded until Saturday," said the clerk. Farquharson stepped down from his seat, stirred by a fugitive hope that he might so far elude the vigilance of Moira's custodians as to obtain a moment's speech with her; but the girl was hurried away in custody, ami he was left biting his nails, angrily impotent. "What was your motive in asking after the butler's nationality?" asked Mr Leatham curiously, as they walked away. "I don't know; but,mixing with men as I've done, one's quick to distrust a foreigner who poses as an Englishman. I thought I detected an accent in~ the man's voice—heaven knows what I did think! I believe that I shall go mad soon if some clue is not forthcoming. Will Miss Seymour say nothing —does she still preserve her silence on what actually happened that night.' I mean, you've questioned her, of course, as to what the row was about?" "Yes, but she refuses to give .any definite answer. Short of putting her in the witness-box and cross-questioning her, it is impossible to learn anything from her, and I have advised her to Teserve her defence for the Assizes. Before they come on it is quite possible that something may have cropped irp that will alter her determination." "I don't know. Heath is an abstract thing, and Miss Seymour may not have realised that this trial is real. When one is young and healthy, death seems very far off —an unreal thing —and the mischief may be done before she comes to a clear understanding.*' "I will do my best; but I warn you. Major Farquharson, that the greater part of the work will have to he done outside by those who wish to help her. If there were only any tangible clue which one might grasp—-" "Then, whatever can be done outside shall lie done." said the soldier. "I'll move heaven and earth to get some inkling of what lies at the bottom of this 1 angle." The lawyer, looking at the soldier, became imbued with the idea that here was a personality to be reckoned with. He laughed soundlessly; but when lie wpoke again'his voice was quite serious. "The Assizes will be in December," he said. "That gives us a month in which to work. Empires have been won in less time." And as the two men parted, the lawyer to go to his rooms at the White Soldier, the other man to take a train for town, Mr Leatham halted, and studied Farquharson's broad back. "I shouldn't be surprised if that man's determination proved more than a match for Miss Seymour's obstinacy," he said reflectively. "He. is a strong man—the strongest man I've ever known,'' (To be Continued.)