Читать книгу Secret of the River - Fred M. White - Страница 6

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TOM BLISSETT and his popular wife had not been so many years in residence in the neighbourhood. Blissett was quite a young man, not yet in the forties, and a thorough sportsman in all departments of the game. He had been, ages ago, or so it seemed now, captain of a famous public school where he and Nevil were educated, from whence he had graduated as a bachelor of science at Oxford, and thence to Harley-street, where he had finally become recognised as a scientist of distinction. His ambition had been greater than his strength, so that a complete nervous breakdown had followed. On the top of this, a distant relative had left him a small fortune, and with the money behind him he had determined to turn his back on London and devote himself, for the future, to his farm and his sport. The result was a return to perfect health, and a resolve that the world of science should know him no more.

All the same, he did a lot of reading in his spare time, and kept himself thoroughly abreast of modern scientific developments. But nobody would have known this who had not been acquainted with his past, for he kept the matter severely in the background, and one of the few people in his secret was Nevil Ashdown.

Nevil knew that he could trust Blissett implicitly. He knew that anything he had to say would be regarded, much as a doctor regards the admissions of his patients. Not that Nevil was going to say too much, but he certainly wanted to ask his friend a few things not entirely unconnected with the strange case of Angela Murray. Therefore, on the following morning, he walked across the fields to his farm-house lodging in the direction of Blissett's house and found the latter busy, or apparently busy, with the "Times."

"I hardly expected to find you at home this morning," Nevil said.

"Oh, why not?" Blissett asked. "What is there for a chap to do when this frost is hanging round? The shooting is pretty nearly finished and hunting is out of the question. Now, sit down and light your pipe and let us have a comfortable chat."

Nevil intimated that there was nothing he would like better, so he loaded his pipe and threw himself back in the armchair, and, by gradual degrees, approached the subject nearest his heart.

"I wonder if you could give me a bit of information," he began. "It's something to do with a play I am half inclined to write, and that little stunt I worked with Angela last night has brought it back to my mind. Of course, the whole thing was a bit of innocent fun, but I am not sure that everybody believed it."

"I did, at any rate," Blissett said stoutly.

"Of course you did, old chap, and so did most of the guests. But that long, lean, melancholy partner of Murray's—I mean Sidey—seemed to hold a different opinion. It was only for a moment or two, but there was an expression on his face that almost impelled me to get up and smash him between those repulsive black eyes of his."

"Oh, Sidey's all right," Blissett said. "You see he is the man in Murray's firm who looks after the financial side of things—just the cool, cautious sort of blade that a dashing speculator like Murray needs as a drag on the coach. I ought to know, because I have had dealings with Sidey during the last month or two."

"What, you mean you have been speculating?"

"Well, I shouldn't call it that," Blissett said. "I don't know whether you are aware of it or not, but that Frenchman, Blanchin, is one of the cleverest chemists in the world. There is no authority on poisons or drugs to touch him. He is on the verge of discovering a serum that is going to revolutionise both medicine and surgery. I know, because he has told me a good deal about it. Not the real secret, because he isn't that sort of man. And he, unlike so many other scientists, has a fine eye to the main chance. I don't suppose you know it, but he has set up a rather elaborate laboratory in your old home, and I have watched several experiments there. My word, they were a revelation to me. And that, strictly between ourselves, is why I have put a goodish bit into Murray's business."

"Oh, you have, have you?" Nevil exclaimed.

"Yes, indeed, I have, and if Murray gives you a chance, I should advise you to follow suit."

"Really? Well, I could do with a bit of extra money. As you know, I am only waiting now for Murray to clear out in a few months' time to go back to Ashdown Croft, by which time the estate will be absolutely free from debt. As a matter of fact, I made a bit of money in America over and above what I sent to the family lawyers, and I could find, say £5000, if you think it really is worth my while to approach Murray on the subject."

"I am absolutely certain that you will get your money back three or four times over," Blissett said emphatically. "At the moment, Murray and Co. can do with all the capital they can lay their hands on, and—yes, by Jove—it's rather singular that Murray himself asked me last week if I thought that you would be interested in Blanchin's latest exploits. I told him I didn't know, and that he had better ask you. I suppose he hasn't done so?"

"Well, not what you might call directly," Nevil said, "Just a hint. Still, it is worth thinking about."

And so it came about that Nevil wended his way home after lunch without consulting Blissett on the subject that was uppermost in his mind. He only realised this when he was close to his own house, and resolved to go back again the next morning and see if he could discover anything that might bring him a little more peace of mind. It was later in the afternoon, just as it was getting dark, and he was returning to his farm quarters, after an hour or two's exercise on the road, that he came in contact with Everard Murray.

The latter greeted him with his usual geniality and promptly asked him into the house for a drink and a smoke.

"That is, if you have nothing better to do," Murray said. "Confound this frost—it puts a stop to everything. Shooting nearly finished, no hunting, and no exercise but walking. If it lasts over to-morrow, I shall be off to town again. They tell me that the river is frozen over, so that a couple more nights' frost will make it bear. Such a thing has been unknown for a lifetime. But come inside, my dear boy, come inside and let us try and forget our troubles."

In the big hall with its panelled walls and low rafters that Nevil knew so well, the two sat down before a roaring log fire whilst Jakes, the old butler, who had been a servant in the house for nearly forty years, came in with decanters and syphons.

"A fine type of servant, that," Murray said, when the old butler had gone. "I am glad he decided to stay with me when I took the house over. But then, I don't suppose he would be happy anywhere else. The breed is fast dying out, unfortunately."

"Jakes was born and bred on the estate," Nevil said. "And he is not so old as he looks. You wouldn't believe how powerful he is, and what a cool head he has in an emergency. I could tell you one or two stories about him that would rather astonish you."

"Yes," Murray said. "I can quite understand. That man has served me well, but I know what a happy day it will be for him when my tenancy comes to an end. By the way, I suppose you intend to return to the place and live here in future?"

"That is my intention," Nevil laughed.

"Yes quite natural, of course, but rather an expensive place to keep up these times, what? Taking local gossip for what it is worth, I suppose you will have about five thousand a year? You will want every penny of it. Now, suppose I could show you how to make a good deal more money without lifting a hand. If you have a few thousands to spare out of your savings, why not put it into my business? Come on the board and all that sort of thing. It will only mean a couple of days a week in town for the next two or three months and, after that, you can rest on your oars and draw your share of the profits. And if you have any doubts on the subject, you ask your friend Blissett what he thinks."

"Curiously enough, Blissett only mentioned the subject to me this very morning," Nevil explained. "Mind you, Murray, I don't know anything whatever about business, but I haven't done so badly in my own line. In fact, ever since I attained my majority, I haven't drawn a penny from the estate. Now, suppose you tell me something about the way you run your own affairs and more particularly, where that wonderful chemist, Blanchin, comes in."

Apparently, Murray wanted nothing better. He launched out into a long discussion and presently produced books and papers with which he backed up his declarations. He had practically finished when Blanchin himself came downstairs from the gallery that ran round the hall and helped himself to a whisky and soda with an air of detachment that rather impressed Ashdown.

"Ah, it ees beeziness," the Frenchman said. "I know 'im not. But I know 'ow to take care of myself."

"Yes, he does that," Murray laughed. "Hello, here's Sidey."

At that moment, the lank and melancholy individual came into the hall and frowned slightly as he saw the papers lying on the table.

"Excuse me, Mr. Ashdown," he said, in his mournful drawl. "But I see you have been talking business with our chairman. Now, if it is not a liberty, I ask you to be careful. Far too sanguine is our friend Murray. A wonderful man and a great power in the City, but without me to drag him back, he would be in trouble sooner or later. So please, Mr. Ashdown, be careful, because I feel quite sure that my friend Murray has been offering you a small corner in our inventions department. Isn't that so, sir?"

"Absolutely," Ashdown smiled. "And I take it kindly of you to give me this warning. But, as far as I can gather, the concern is very sound and the profits likely to be enormous."

"Oh, of that there is no question," Sidey said. And with that he directed the conversation into another channel. A little later Nevil Ashdown shook hands with the three and departed.

No sooner had he gone than Murray smiled broadly.

"The bird is in the net," he said. "But I must say, Sidey, that you did your best to show him the meshes."

"Oh dear no," Sidey said, coolly. "My little bit of artistry will clinch the business. The bird is in the net, right enough."