Usually old Sam was a very quiet-mannered man whom nothing disturbed. But that morning he was distinctly upset. He had scarcely slept a single wink, and his deep-sunken eyes and almost haggard face told of a great anxiety wearing out his heart.
He tried to add up a long column of figures upon a sheet of paper before him, but gave it up with a deep sigh. Again he rose, glanced out of the window, audibly denounced in unmeasured terms a motor-bus which, tearing past, caused his room to shake, and then returned to his table.
But he was far too impatient to sit there long, for again he rose and paced the room, his grey brows knit in evident displeasure, his thin, bony hands clenched tightly, and from his lips escaping muttered imprecations upon some person whom he did not name.
Once he laughed a hard little laugh. His lip curled in exultant triumph as he stuck his hands into the pockets of his shabby jacket and again went to look over the brisé-brisé curtains of pale pink silk into the roadway.
For a moment he looked, then, with a start, he stood glaring out. Next instant he sprang back from the window with a look of terror upon his blanched cheeks. He had caught sight of somebody whose presence there was both unwelcome and unexpected, and the encounter had filled him with anxiety and dismay.
As he had gazed inquiringly forth, with his face close to the window-pane, his eyes had met those of a man of about his own age, shabby, with grey, ragged hair, threadbare clothes, broken boots, and a soft grey felt hat, darkly stained around the band a tramp evidently. The stranger was leaning idly against the park railings, evidently regarding the house with some wonder, when the sad face of its master had appeared.
The pair glared at each other for one single second. Then Sam Statham, recognising in the others crafty eyes a look of cruel, relentless revenge, started back into the room, breathless and deathly pale. He staggered to his chair, supporting himself by clutching at its back.
Then they did not lie! he gasped aloud. He hes alive therefore so its all over! I I saw his intentions plainly written in his face. Ive played the game and lost! He has returned, therefore I must face the inevitable. Yes, he added, with that same bitter laugh, only this time it was the hoarse, discordant laugh of a man who found himself cornered, without any possible means of escape. Yes this is the end I must die! to-day! And he whispered, glancing round the room as though in terror of his own voice, Yes before the sun sets.
Chapter Nine.
In which Levi Gives Advice
For fully five minutes Samuel Statham stood steadying himself by the back of his chair. His face was white and rigid, his jaw set, his breathing quick and excited, his hands trembling, his face full of a sudden horror.
He had entirely changed. The sight of that shabby stranger had filled him with fear.
Once or twice he glanced furtively at the window. Then, straightening himself in a vain endeavour to remain calm, he bent and crept back to the window in order to ascertain whether the man still remained. Bent and out of sight he approached the lace-edged curtain and peered through unseen.
Yes; the fellow was still there. He had lit his pipe with calm unconcern, and was leaning back against the railings in full view of the house. The mans attitude was that of complete triumph. Ah! what a fool he had been to have shown himself so openly as he had done! To think that this man of all men was still alive!
He crept back again, trembling. His face was haggard and bloodless, the countenance of a man whose future was but a blank the dismal blank of the grave.
His whole body trembled as he sank into his writing-chair, and, leaning his elbows upon the desk, he buried his face in his hands and sobbed. Yes; he, the hard-headed financier, whose influence was felt in every corner of the world, the man who controlled millions and who loaned great sums to certain of the rulers of Europe, sobbed aloud.
Ah! he cried to himself, I was a fool when I disbelieved them. I thought that blackmail was their object in telling me the story of how that man was alive and had been seen. Therefore I only laughed at them and took no precaution. Ah! I was a fool, and my foolishness must end fatally. There is no way out of it for me only death. Ive been a fool a confounded fool. I ought to have made certain; I ought not to have taken any risk. Im wiser now than I was then. Age has brought me wisdom as well as destroying my belief in the honesty of men and the loyalty of friends; and as he sighed heavily, his brow still bent upon his hand, he touched the bell, and old Levi appeared.
Levi, he said, in a low unusual voice, go quietly to that window and, without attracting attention, look outside at a man opposite.
The faithful old servant, somewhat surprised at these rather unusual instructions, walked stealthily to the window and peered through the lace insertion of the brisé-brisé.
Scarcely had he done so than, with a cry, he withdrew, and facing his master, stood staring at him.
Did you see anyone, Levi? asked his master, raising his head suddenly.
Yes, was the hoarse whisper of the man who stood there, white-faced in fear. Its him! I I thought you said he was dead.
No; he isnt! Hes there in the flesh.
And what are we to do?
What can we do? He recognised me a moment ago, and hes watching the house.
Which means that you had better leave England for a considerable time.
What! cried Statham, in quick reproof. What run away? Never!
But well, in the circumstances, dont you scent danger a very grave danger? asked the old servant whose devotion to his master had always been so marked.
When I am threatened I always face my accuser. I shall do so now, was the great mans calm reply, even though it were in absolute contradiction to his attitude only a few moments before. Perhaps it was that he did not wish old Levi to know his fear.
But but that can only result in disaster, remarked the old servant, who never addressed his master as sir the pair were on too intimate terms for that. If I might presume to advise, I think
No, Levi, snapped the other; you havent any right to give advice in this affair. I know my own business best, surely?
And that man knows as much as you do and more.
They told me he was alive, and I fool that I was disbelieved them! the old millionaire cried. And there he is now, watching outside like a terrier outside a rat-hole. And Im the rat, Levi caught in my own trap!
Is there no way out of this? asked the other. Surely you can escape if you so desire get away to America, or to the Continent.
And whats the use. Hed follow. And even if he didnt, think of what he can tell if he goes to the police.
Yes; he could tell sufficient to cause Statham Brothers to close their doors eh? remarked the old servant very seriously.
Thats just it. Ive been a confounded idiot. Rolfe warned me only the other day that the fellow was in London, but I said I wouldnt believe him until I saw the man with my own eyes. To-day I have actually seen him, and there can be no mistake. Hes the man that that I
His sentence remained unfinished, for he sank into his chair and groaned, covered his face again with his hands in an attitude of deep remorse, while Levi stood by watching in silence.
Rolfe could help you in this matter, the man exclaimed at last. Where is he?
I dont know. I sent him yesterday to Belgrade, but last night he telephoned that he had lost the train.
Then he may have left at nine oclock this morning?
Most probably.
Then you must recall him by wire.
No telegram can reach him till he gets to Servia, for I dont know whether hes gone from Ostend or Paris.
Theyd know in the City. Why not ask them?
No; they wouldnt know.
Why?
Because Rolfe had with him a big sum in German notes and a quantity of securities belonging to the National Bank of Servia. In that case he would not let anyone know his route, for fear of thieves. It is one of my strictest orders to him. Why he lost the train last night I cant tell.
Well, its a thousand pities we cant get at him, for hes the only man to help you out of this difficulty.
Yes; I quite agree. That shabby, down-at-heel man waiting outside is my master, Levi the master of Statham Ltd. My future is in his hands!
He had raised his head, and sat staring at the beautiful picture upon the wall before him, the picture with its wonderful tints which had been copied in a hundred different places.
His countenance was haggard and drawn, and in his eyes was a look of unspeakable terror, as though he were looking into his own grave, as indeed at that moment he was.
The sombre melancholy-looking Levi stood watching for a moment, and then, creeping to the window, looked out into the sunshine of Park Lane.
The ragged tramp was still there, idling against the railings, and smoking a short, dirty pipe quite unconcernedly. He was watching for the re-appearance of that white, startled face at the window the face of the great Samuel Statham. Hes still outside, I suppose? queried the man at the other end of the room.
Levi replied in the affirmative, whereat old Samuel clenched his teeth and muttered something which sounded like an oration. He was condemning himself for his disbelief in his secretarys warnings.
Had I listened to him I could easily have saved myself I could have prevented him from coming here, he said in a meaning voice.
Yes; it would not have been difficult to have prevented this. After what has occurred that blackguard has no right to live.
Aha! then you believe me, Levi? cried the wretched man. You do not blame me? he asked, anxiously.
He was to blame not you.
Then I was right in acting as I did, you think right to protect my interests.
You were right in your self-defence, the man answered, somewhat grey, sphinx-like, for Levi was a man whose thoughts one could never read from his thin, grey, expressionless face. But you were injudicious when you disregarded Rolfes warning.
I thought he had his own interests to serve, was Stathams reply.
Frankly, you believed it to be an attempt at blackmail. I quite follow you. But do you think Rolfe would be guilty of such a thing?
My dear Levi, when a poor man is in love, as Rolfe is, it is a sore temptation to obtain by any means, fair or foul, sufficient to marry and support a wife. You and I were both young once eh? And we thought that our love would last always. Where is yours to-day, and he sighed where is mine?
You are right, replied the old servant slowly, with a slight sigh. You refer to little Marie. Ah! I can see her now, as plainly as she was then, forty years ago. How beautiful she was, how dainty, how perfect, and ah! how well you loved her. And what a tragedy the tragedy of your life the tragedy that has ever been hidden from the world the
No! Enough, Levi! cried his master hoarsely, staring straight before him. Do not recall that to me, especially at this moment. It was the great tragedy of my life, until until this present one which which threatens to end it.
But you are going to face the music. You have said!
I may and I may not.
Levi was silent again. Only the low ticking of the dock broke the quiet, and was followed by the rumble of a motor-bus and the consequent tremor in the room.
At any rate, Samuel Statham will never act the coward, the millionaire remarked at last, in a soft but distinct voice.
Rolfe can help you. Where is he away just at the moment that hes wanted, Levi said.
My fault! My fault, Levi! his master declared. I disbelieved him, and sent him out to Servia to show him that I did not credit what he told me.
You were a fool! said Levi, bluntly. He never minced words when his master spoke confidentially.
I know I was. I have already admitted it, exclaimed the financier. But what puzzles me is that that man outside is really alive and in the flesh. I never dreamed that he would return to face me. He was dead I could have sworn it.
So you saw him dead eh?
Old Statham drew a quick breath, and his face went ashen, for he saw how he had betrayed himself. Next instant he had recovered from his embarrassment and, bracing himself with an effort, said:
No no, of course not. I I only know what well, what Ive been told. I was misled wilfully by my enemies.
Levi looked straight into his face with a queer expression of disbelief. Statham noticed it, and it unnerved him.
He had inadvertently made confession, and Levi did not credit his denial.
The peril of the situation was complete!
Chapter Ten.
Shows a Womans Peril
Several hours had gone by, hours which Samuel Statham spent, seated in a deep easy-chair near the empty fire grate, reviewing his long and eventful life.
With his head buried in his hands, he reflected upon all the past its tragedy and its prosperity. True, he had grown rich, wealthier than he had ever dreamed, but, ah! at what a cost! The world knew nothing. The world of finance, known in the City, looked upon him as a power to be reckoned with. By a stroke of that stubby, ink-stained pen which lay upon the writing-table he could influence the markets in Paris or Berlin. His aid and advice were sought by men who were foremost in the countrys commerce and politics, and he granted loans to princes and to kingdoms. And yet the tragedy of his own heart was a bitter one, and his secret one that none dreamed.
He, like many another world-famous man, had a skeleton in his cupboard. And that day it had seen the light, and the sight of it had caused him to begin the slow and painful process of putting his house in order, prior to quitting it for ever prior to seeking death by his own hand.
For nearly an hour he had been huddled up in the big leather armchair almost immovable. He had scrawled two or three letters, and written the superscription upon their envelopes, and from his writing-table he had taken a bundle of letters tied with a faded blue ribbon. One by one he had read them through, and then, placing them in the grate, he had applied a match and burnt them all. Some other business documents followed, as well as an old parchment deed, which he first tried to tear, but at last burned until it was merely twisted tinder.
It was now afternoon, and the silence of that house of mystery, wherein no one save Charles Rolfe ever penetrated, was unbroken. Across the soft green carpet lay a bar of warm sunlight that seemed strangely out of place in that sombre apartment, with its despairing owner, while outside the shabby stranger was no longer to be seen.
He might be lurking in the vicinity, but Levi had an hour ago entered and informed his master that the patient vigil had been relaxed.