Читать книгу The House of Mammon - Fred M. White - Страница 8

Table of Contents

John Sairson sat brooding in his club for the best part of an hour after the receipt of Gosway's message. All his life he had been accustomed to his own way. He had fought for it as a child; he had schemed for it in his early manhood. Now he was strong enough to take it ruthlessly and unfalteringly without regard to the feelings of others. He laughed to himself as he saw the trouble and misery he left behind him.

The man was a bully to the finger-tips, he boasted of his strength and courage. Yet in his heart of hearts he was a coward—and he knew it. He was afraid—physically afraid—and the consciousness of it galled him. He was afraid of a poor broken-down wretch on the verge of starvation. He told himself a score of times he would not stand any more of this nonsense—he would go down to Marlton Grange as if nothing had happened. Yet he lingered in his easy-chair, speaking to nobody, and hiding his gloomy face behind an evening paper.

Gosway came to him presently with an urgent message. He was in the waiting-room; he had not sent in his own name, but one that he always used in emergencies. Sairson strode into the waiting-room, sulky and angry. Here was something to vent his ill-humor on.

"What did you mean by coming here?" he asked. "Running the risk of being recognised, and——"

"As you please," said Gosway. "I wasn't particularly anxious to come. I knew I should find you here."

"How did you know that? I said I was going to Marlton."

"Yes, you said so. But I was sure you wouldn't after my message."

Sairson choked a savage expletive and demanded Gosway's business curtly.

"Well, its about Lord Laurisdale," the latter explained. "He owes John Blaydon and Co. over ten thousand pounds. This you are already aware of. As you probably expected, it is impossible for his lordship to meet these bills. He called and told me as much. He wants them renewed. I said, of course, that such a thing was out of the question. As agreed, I recommended him to see you in person and try to negotiate a loan. He consented, but returned to learn where he could find you without the slightest delay. You know his impatient way?"

"You asked him what you had to do with it?"

"Oh! I played the solemn farce in the usual way. But I promised to find out and let him know at the theatre. If the money is not forthcoming to-morrow, the theatre must close. You had better go down to the Cosmos and see his lordship."

A peculiar smile passed over Sairson's face. Something evidently had pleased him. But that cold evil smile boded little good to anybody else.

"Excellent, Gosway, excellent!" he said. "You have done very well indeed. Upon my word, I have a great mind to see his lordship. As a near neighbor of mine at Marlton it would look well. Lady Laurisdale has never called upon any people."

Gosway broke into a chuckle, and then coughed discreetly. The dull red flashed into Sairson's face. He caught his lip with his strong yellow teeth.

"Never called upon us," he went on doggedly: "but, they shall. 'Phone to Laurisdale at the Cosmos and say you have found me. Tell him I shall be passing the theatre within an hour or so, and that I will look in."

Sairson turned on his heel abruptly and made his way back to the smoking-room. He dined early, and immediately afterwards called a taxi and drove to the Cosmos. The production of his card opened the manager's room to him at once. He found a tall young man awaiting him—a young man with shining hair parted in the middle, with a weak, wilful, effeminate face, and of languid manner. A glass screwed in the left eye added to the supercilious air that Lord Laurisdale effected. He looked exactly what he was-a spoilt, handsome youth who had been allowed to have his own way all his life and was now suffering from the consequences. But despite his air of ease and assurance, Sairson could see that the hand holding the Egyptian cigarette shook, and the thin lips were none too steady.

"Upon my word this is awfully good of you," Laurisdale said. "Really friendly, what? Can't for the life of me remember who the Johnnie was who suggested that I should come to you."

Sairson bowed and smiled. He could have told Lord Laurisdale perfectly well had he chosen to do so.

"Does it in the least matter?" he asked. "If we are to do business together, my lord, it will pay you to be quite candid with me. Understand, we are not money-lenders, though our business is largely financial. Do I understand that Blaydon is pressing you for money?"

"The beast is persecuting my life out," Laurisdale cried. "Ten thousand pounds due on Tuesday, and not a bob to pay it with. Fellow won't renew, either. Awful fix for me, what? And the beastly theatre to be kept going as well! If you care to take up those bills.. .."

Laurisdale looked almost timidly at Sairson. The latter appeared to be deep in calculation.

"This is not a matter we can settle in ten minutes," he said. "I take it you would not be out of the wood unless you could persuade Blaydon to renew your bills. If he does, he would certainly need, say, a couple of thousand on account and make it a stipulation that you renew for fifteen thousand. And I daresay you want a thousand or two for the theatre."

"Four at the very least," his lordship said drearily. "Now, look here, Sairson, would you find me ten thousand and take over Blaydon's bills?"

"My dear Lord Laurisdale, the thing is impossible!" Sairson exclaimed. "We are not money-lenders, as I told you, but financial agents. Nor is Blaydon by any means the rich man you take him to be. I happen to know that. One gets to hear these things in the city. Blaydon has had losses. He is cramped for money in connection with a speculation that involves intricate law business. It's all bound to come right in the end, but meanwhile it keeps him short. Between ourselves I have helped Blaydon. At the present moment those bills of yours are in my safe at Marlton Grange. Blaydon called there to see me, and I lent him the money on the spot. Now what do you think of that for a coincidence?"

"God bless my soul!" Laurisdale gasped. "Regular dispensation of Providence, what!"

"It does seem like it," Sairson said thoughtfully. "I have no doubt that the matter can be arranged. I daresay I can find you the additional cash. But it can't be done on the spur of the moment. We must go into ways and means and the question of security is important. Why not come down to Marlton Grange this evening? I have a car in town. If we started now we would get to Marlton by half-past 12 or 1."

Laurisdale laughed at the suggestion. It was Friday night, and salaries were due on the morrow at noon, and there was small chance of the money's being forthcoming otherwise.

"Your presence here will make little or no difference," Sairson urged. "By remaining, you will be no better off, no nearer a settlement so far as salaries are concerned. If we come to an arrangement, I can wire my people in the morning to send a thousand pounds to your manager."

Lord Laurisdale gave a sigh of relief. He was thinking of the expensive and wilful beauty, the leading lady, who was ruining him by her waywardness and extravagance. If he failed her now, she would never look upon him again. It was all very well to despise this man Sairson, to look upon him as a vulgar-minded snob, but just now he appeared in the light of Laurisdale's guardian angel. He was giving no heed to the poor, neglected wife eating her heart out in solitude at Laurisdale Castle—the young and beautiful woman whose life had once held such promise of happiness.

"By Jove, I'll come," he exclaimed. "I'll leave a note for Sadie Carton, explaining matters. I daresay you can put me up for the night. I will manage to take a day at the castle somehow to-morrow. Haven't been near the place for a month. Model sort of husband, what?"

Sairson's eyes gleamed strangely.

"It seems a pity," he said. "It's about your property there that I want to come to a deal with you. I expect that is where my security lies. But it must be very lonely for Lady Laurisdale. You had better arrange to stay with me till Monday, seeing that we have so much to talk about, and get her ladyship to come over for the day to-morrow. She can lunch and dine with us. In circumstances like this, there is no need to stand on ceremony."

The glass dropped from Laurisdale's eyes in sheer astonishment. His wife call on these people! He could not imagine himself even suggesting such a thing. Blanche Laurisdale was both charming and good-natured, but she had the pride of her race. The curate's wife and her untidy family were always welcome at the castle, but the Sairsons! Laurisdale was not an imaginative man, but he could conjure up the amused scorn on his wife's face should he venture on the preposterous scheme. Every bit of what was passing through his mind was clear as noonday to Sairson.

"My wife is a lady," he said. "She was a Belham. My daughter takes after her. As a matter of fact, Lady Laurisdale should have called on them long ago. It is all in your hands, my lord. I am not the man to go out of my way to be friendly unless I see some return for my investment. But perhaps you may have another source of capital."

"Oh, I'll do what I can," Laurisdale said between his teeth. "Hadn't you better telephone for your car while I write my note?"

With an intense feeling of triumph in his heart Sairson telephoned for his car. They set off in a few minutes, but it was nearly 1 o'clock in the morning before they pulled up at the portico of Marlton Grange. Laurisdale stood on the step whilst Sairson took the car round to the stables. He was thinking of nothing but the triumph of the evening, of the scheme he had planned so long, so cunningly. So far as he could see, everything was plain sailing. He had forgotten about his own danger. With a light heart he conducted Laurisdale into the dining-room.

As he did so a shadow crossed the hall and stood by the door in a listening attitude. Laurisdale was heard protesting that he needed nothing beyond a whisky and soda. The listening figure crouched lower——

Somebody was coming down the stairs—a figure in white with a mass of hair on her shoulders. The face was deadly pale, the lips trembled. She touched the crouching figure with a shaking hand.

"Don't speak!" she whispered. "Don't speak, but follow me and be silent."

"Angela!" the other murmured. "Angela! This is a night of dreams, a night of dreams!"