Mr. Marx's Secret Part 28

"I haven't been near it, sir!" he declared.

Mr. Lawrence looked incredulous.

"There is a negative missing!" he said sharply; "No one else could have meddled with it!"

"I don't know anything about it," the boy answered doggedly. "Perhaps it's upstairs."

Mr. Lawrence abandoned his search.

"If you'll excuse me a moment, sir," he said, "I'll have a look among the old ones."

I nodded and he closed the door and disappeared. Fenton would have gone, too, but I stopped him.

"Look here!" I said quickly; "see this?"

I held out a five-pound note.

He opened his eyes wide and looked at it longingly.

"Well, it's yours if you'll tell me what you've done with the negative of Mr. Hart's photograph. Quick!"

He hesitated.

"Should you split to the governor?" he asked.

"No."

"Well, then, I sold it for a sovereign to a young gentleman what inquired for it a few minutes ago. A thin, dark chap he is. I don't know his name, but I've seen him driving with you."

I threw him the note and left the place. I had now no doubt about the matter at all. De Cartienne had stolen the photograph of Mr. Hart from the "Rose and Crown," and had bought the negative. Why?

CHAPTER x.x.xIII.

A GLEAM OF LIGHT.

After leaving the photographer's shop, I walked slowly across the little market-place and down the narrow street towards the "Rose and Crown." My recent discovery had given me a good deal to think about, or rather, had afforded me matter for a variety of wild conjectures, but I could follow none of them to a very satisfactory conclusion. I was like a man groping in the dark. I had stumbled upon several very extraordinary and inexplicable facts; but what connection, if any, they had with one another, or how to link them together, I could not tell.

I have always been somewhat absent-minded and, with my brain in such a whirl, it was not a very remarkable thing that I took a wrong turning.

The moment I had discovered it I stopped short and looked round. I was in a little street that led past the back entrance of the "Rose and Crown."

It was scarcely a public thoroughfare.

I had already turned on my heel to retrace my steps, when I saw two figures standing talking at the back door of the inn. One I knew at a glance to be Milly Hart. Her companion was standing with his back to me, a m.u.f.fler round his neck and his cap slouched over his eyes. In the gloom of the fast-falling twilight I did not at first recognise him; but when he turned round with a start at the sound of my approaching footsteps and withdrew his arm with a sudden movement from around his companion's waist, something in the motion and figure seemed familiar to me.

My approach seemed to discompose them not a little. Milly stepped back at once into the doorway and disappeared; her companion, without waiting to make any adieu, turned round and walked swiftly away. As he crossed the street to make use of the only exit from it--a narrow pa.s.sage leading through a court--I had a better view of him. He kept his back to me as much as possible and seemed to be using every endeavour to escape recognition. But although I could not be quite certain, I was pretty sure that it was Leonard de Cartienne--de Cartienne, who never missed an opportunity of sneering at Milly's innocent blue eyes and baby face.

I turned back, and hurried round to the front entrance of the "Rose and Crown." In the parlour I found Cecil and Milly sitting very close together upon a sofa.

"Hallo, old chap, you haven't been long!" remarked Cecil, rising reluctantly.

"I should have been here before," I answered, looking steadily at Milly, "but I took a wrong turning and got round the back of this place somehow.

Saw you, didn't I, Miss Milly?" I remarked.

She raised her eyebrows and looked at me wonderingly out of her placid blue eyes.

"Me? Oh, no! I have only just come downstairs, have I not, Cecil? It must have been one of the maids."

Milly and I exchanged a steady gaze, her eyes meeting mine without drooping and her manner betraying only a mild surprise. It was a revelation to me, a lesson which I did not easily forget.

"Oh, I beg your pardon, I'm sure," I said, turning away. "It was rather dark and no doubt I was mistaken. Strange, too; I thought it was de Cartienne with whom you were talking."

Cecil laughed carelessly.

"My dear fellow, you must have been dreaming," he said; "de Cartienne has not been here at all."

"Ready, Cecil?" I asked, abandoning the subject. "I think we've kept Bess waiting about long enough."

"I'll come," he replied, drawing on his gloves. "I've scarcely had a moment with you, Milly, though, have I? No news?"

She shook her head sadly and the big tears stood in her eyes. There was no mistaking her earnestness now.

"None about my father. My uncle and aunt are coming to stay here. I expect them tonight."

"Horrid nuisance that is!" remarked Cecil, _sotto voce_. "Never mind, you won't be so lonely, little woman, will you? And you won't have so much to look after. I must take you for a drive as soon as we get a fine, clear day; that'll bring some colour into your cheeks. Good-bye!"

She came to the door and watched us drive off. Cecil took the reins and I climbed to his side, and, folding my arms, sat for a while in gloomy silence. Then suddenly a gleam of light, or what I hoped might prove so, broke in upon me and I laid my hand upon Cecil's arm.

"Pull up, old chap--quick!" I exclaimed.

He did so, and looked at me wonderingly.

"Turn round and drive back again as fast as you can," I said, my voice trembling a little with excitement; "I want to ask Milly Hart a question."

CHAPTER x.x.xIV.

DR. SCHOFIELD'S OPINION.

In ten minutes we were in the streets of Little Drayton again, and Cecil had brought the dog cart to a standstill outside the "Rose and Crown." He would have gone in with me, but I begged him not to. I jumped down and walked straight into the little parlour. Milly was sitting there alone, gazing absently into the fire. She looked up in surprise at my sudden entrance, and half rose.

"Milly, I want to ask you a question," I said, going up to her side.

"It's about your father's disappearance."

"Yes!" she exclaimed eagerly. "What is it? Oh, do tell me quickly!"