Prince Zaleski Read online

Imight even have foretold it, years ago.'

  'Foretold--what? Not the murder of Lord Pharanx?'

  'Something of that kind,' he answered with a smile; 'but proceed--tellme all the facts you know.'

  Word-mysteries of this sort fell frequent from the lips of the prince.I continued the narrative.

  'The two, then, met, and were reconciled. But it was a reconciliationwithout cordiality, without affection--a shaking of hands across abarrier of brass; and even this hand-shaking was a strictlymetaphorical one, for they do not seem ever to have got beyond theinterchange of a frigid bow. The opportunities, however, forobservation were few. Soon after Randolph's arrival at Orven Hall, hisfather entered on a life of the most absolute seclusion. The mansion isan old three-storied one, the top floor consisting for the most part ofsleeping-rooms, the first of a library, drawing-room, and so on, andthe ground-floor, in addition to the dining and other ordinary rooms,of another small library, looking out (at the side of the house) on alow balcony, which, in turn, looks on a lawn dotted with flower-beds.It was this smaller library on the ground-floor that was now divestedof its books, and converted into a bedroom for the earl. Hither hemigrated, and here he lived, scarcely ever leaving it. Randolph, on hispart, moved to a room on the first floor immediately above this. Someof the retainers of the family were dismissed, and on the remaining fewfell a hush of expectancy, a sense of wonder, as to what these thingsboded. A great enforced quiet pervaded the building, the least unduenoise in any part being sure to be followed by the angry voice of themaster demanding the cause. Once, as the servants were supping in thekitchen on the side of the house most remote from that which heoccupied, Lord Pharanx, slippered and in dressing-gown, appeared at thedoorway, purple with rage, threatening to pack the whole company ofthem out of doors if they did not moderate the clatter of their knivesand forks. He had always been regarded with fear in his own household,and the very sound of his voice now became a terror. His food was takento him in the room he had made his habitation, and it was remarkedthat, though simple before in his gustatory tastes, he now--possiblyowing to the sedentary life he led--became fastidious, insisting on_recherche_ bits. I mention all these details to you--as I shallmention others--not because they have the least connection with thetragedy as it subsequently occurred, but merely because I know them,and you have requested me to state all I know.'

  'Yes,' he answered, with a suspicion of _ennui_, 'you are right. I mayas well hear the whole--if I must hear a part.'

  'Meanwhile, Randolph appears to have visited the earl at least once aday. In such retirement did he, too, live that many of his friendsstill supposed him to be in India. There was only one respect in whichhe broke through this privacy. You know, of course, that the Orvensare, and, I believe, always have been, noted as the most obstinate, themost crabbed of Conservatives in politics. Even among thepast-enamoured families of England, they stand out conspicuously inthis respect. Is it credible to you, then, that Randolph should offerhimself to the Radical Association of the Borough of Orven as acandidate for the next election in opposition to the sitting member? Itis on record, too, that he spoke at three public meetings--reported inlocal papers--at which he avowed his political conversion; afterwardslaid the foundation-stone of a new Baptist chapel; presided at aMethodist tea-meeting; and taking an abnormal interest in the debasedcondition of the labourers in the villages round, fitted up as aclass-room an apartment on the top floor at Orven Hall, and gatheredround him on two evenings in every week a class of yokels, whom heproceeded to cram with demonstrations in elementary mechanics.'

  'Mechanics!' cried Zaleski, starting upright for a moment, 'mechanicsto agricultural labourers! Why not elementary chemistry? Why notelementary botany? _Why_ mechanics?'

  This was the first evidence of interest he had shown in the story. Iwas pleased, but answered:

  'The point is unimportant; and there really is no accounting for thevagaries of such a man. He wished, I imagine, to give some idea to theyoung illiterates of the simple laws of motion and force. But now Icome to a new character in the drama--the chief character of all. Oneday a woman presented herself at Orven Hall and demanded to see itsowner. She spoke English with a strong French accent. Thoughapproaching middle life she was still beautiful, having wild blackeyes, and creamy pale face. Her dress was tawdry, cheap, and loud,showing signs of wear; her hair was unkempt; her manners were not themanners of a lady. A certain vehemence, exasperation, unreposedistinguished all she said and did. The footman refused her admission;Lord Pharanx, he said, was invisible. She persisted violently, pushedpast him, and had to be forcibly ejected; during all which the voice ofthe master was heard roaring from the passage red-eyed remonstrance atthe unusual noise. She went away gesticulating wildly, and vowingvengeance on Lord Pharanx and all the world. It was afterwards foundthat she had taken up her abode in one of the neighbouring hamlets,called Lee.

  'This person, who gave the name of Maude Cibras, subsequently called atthe Hall three times in succession, and was each time refusedadmittance. It was now, however, thought advisable to inform Randolphof her visits. He said she might be permitted to see him, if shereturned. This she did on the next day, and had a long interview inprivate with him. Her voice was heard raised as if in angry protest byone Hester Dyett, a servant of the house, while Randolph in low tonesseemed to try to soothe her. The conversation was in French, and noword could be made out. She passed out at length, tossing her headjauntily, and smiling a vulgar triumph at the footman who had beforeopposed her ingress. She was never known to seek admission to the houseagain.

  'But her connection with its inmates did not cease. The same Hesterasserts that one night, coming home late through the park, she saw twopersons conversing on a bench beneath the trees, crept behind somebushes, and discovered that they were the strange woman and Randolph.The same servant bears evidence to tracking them to othermeeting-places, and to finding in the letter-bag letters addressed toMaude Cibras in Randolph's hand-writing. One of these was actuallyunearthed later on. Indeed, so engrossing did the intercourse become,that it seems even to have interfered with the outburst of radical zealin the new political convert. The _rendezvous_--always held under coverof darkness, but naked and open to the eye of the watchfulHester--sometimes clashed with the science lectures, when these latterwould be put off, so that they became gradually fewer, and then almostceased.'

  'Your narrative becomes unexpectedly interesting,' said Zaleski; 'butthis unearthed letter of Randolph's--what was in it?'

  I read as follows:

  '"Dear Mdlle. Cibras,--I am exerting my utmost influence for you withmy father. But he shows no signs of coming round as yet. If I couldonly induce him to see you! But he is, as you know, a person ofunrelenting will, and meanwhile you must confide in my loyal efforts onyour behalf. At the same time, I admit that the situation is aprecarious one: you are, I am sure, well provided for in the presentwill of Lord Pharanx, but he is on the point--within, say, three orfour days--of making another; and exasperated as he is at yourappearance in England, I know there is no chance of your receiving a_centime_ under the new will. Before then, however, we must hope thatsomething favourable to you may happen; and in the meantime, let meimplore you not to let your only too just resentment pass beyond thebounds of reason.

  "Sincerely yours,

  "RANDOLPH."'

  'I like the letter!' cried Zaleski. 'You notice the tone of manlycandour. But the _facts_--were they true? _Did_ the earl make a newwill in the time specified?'

  'No,--but that may have been because his death intervened.'

  'And in the old will, _was_ Mdlle. Cibras provided for?'

  'Yes,--that at least was correct.'

  A shadow of pain passed over his face.

  'And now,' I went on, 'I come to the closing scene, in which one ofEngland's foremost men perished by the act of an obscure assassin. Theletter I have read was written to Maude Cibras on the 5th of January.The next thing that happens is on the 6th, when Lord Pharanx left hisroom for anot
her during the whole day, and a skilled mechanic wasintroduced into it for the purpose of effecting some alterations. Askedby Hester Dyett, as he was leaving the house, what was the nature ofhis operations, the man replied that he had been applying a patentarrangement to the window looking out on the balcony, for the betterprotection of the room against burglars, several robberies havingrecently been committed in the neighbourhood. The sudden death of thisman, however, before the occurrence of the tragedy, prevented hisevidence being heard. On the next day--the 7th--Hester, entering theroom with Lord Pharanx's dinner, fancies, though she cannot tell why(inasmuch as his back is towards her, he sitting in an arm-chair by thefire), that Lord Pharanx has been "drinking heavily."

  'On the 8th a singular thing befell. The earl was at last