The Mynns' Mystery Part 17

"No, my dear, I certainly don't."

"Then give me credit for having eyes in my head. I'd give anything to have that cellar bricked-up."

"I should like a few dozen of that choice port and the old East Indian sherry first."

"Pis.h.!.+ You're better without."

"I don't know, Rachel. And there's a fine old Madeira, too."

"He is quite transforming the place. Why, he's having a horrible gaming-table set up in the west room."

"My dear, prejudiced old wife, you have one at home, so why should not he?"

"For shame, Phineas! Nothing of the kind."

"Why, there's a card-table in the drawing-room, where you play rubbers of whist."

"Well, that's not a gambling-table. This is a--"

"Billiard-table, Rachel. Don't talk such nonsense. I'd rather see him play billiards all day than sit drinking with Saul Harrington."

"Oh, don't tell me. I know better. And now mind this, we must get Gertrude away, and I shall not be happy till we do."

"Well, I'll think about it; but it's a serious thing, my dear. If we get her away the marriage will not come off, and it was the old man's wish."

"Because he did not know what his beautiful grandson was like. There, it's growing late, and I've got to change my frock."

Mrs Hampton, who looked very nettled and upset, was half way to the door when the gate-bell rang.

"Here's Lawrence," said the old lawyer, going to the window, an announcement which sent Mrs Hampton off with a loud whis.h.i.+ng sound of silk over the carpet and against the door-post, as she hurried out.

"Ah, Hampton! how are you?"

"Don't want any pills or any other medicine," said the dry old lawyer grimly, as the doctor entered the room.

"Well, shake hands," said the fresh comer, as he finished making a neat packet of his gloves by stuffing one in the other.

"Hands clean?"

"Bless my soul, man, yes!"

"Not been handling any contagious patients?"

"Get out! Of course not. How are things looking?" said the doctor, after a long conversation on things in general.

"Horribly."

"You don't say so. Well, I'm very, very sorry."

"For little Gertrude's sake? So am I."

"You've heard something." The lawyer nodded.

"Well, as brother executor, speak out." The lawyer drew a long breath, screwed up his face, and half shut his eye.

"You know that there was a good balance at the bank."

"Yes, excellent."

"All gone."

"The devil!"

"Yes; and he came to me three days ago about raising some more before the rents came in."

"And you refused him, of course?"

"Refused, of course! Lawrence, you're mad."

"Not I, my dear sir. What do you mean?"

"If he came to you to doctor him after some long course of dissipation, would you refuse to prescribe, and drive him to some quack?"

"Why, of course not."

"Well, then, is it likely that I should refuse to raise him money, when I can do it for four per cent, and send him post haste to some confounded gang of scoundrels who would charge him sixty, and make him take half the money in bad wine and cigars."

"No, no, of course not. I was wrong."

"Hist! Here's Gertrude."

"Ah, my dear child," cried the doctor, kissing her affectionately.

"Why, hullo! Here's checks! Dark marks under the eyes, too! This won't do. Here, Hampton, you'll have to turn out, and I must come into residence."

"Oh, I'm quite well," said Gertrude laughingly. "I'm so glad you've come."

"Are you? That's right. Where's Mr George?"

"Not come back yet. He said the dinner was to be kept back an hour."

"Well, well, better appet.i.tes. And where is Mrs Hampton?"

"Here," said that lady's sharp, decisive voice, as, after making a hurried change of costume, she returned to the drawing-room.

"That the new fas.h.i.+on, Rachel?" said the lawyer drily.

"Eh? What do you mean?" and Mrs Hampton turned to one of the gla.s.ses, "Why, bless me?"

She ran out of the room, for, in her hurry, she had come down without her cap--a very stately edifice of lace and wire; and Mrs Hampton's natural coiffure was--