Sawn Off Part 9

"Then you'll want some five hundred or a thousand. I have the latter amount, and no particular use for it. I'll lend it to you at five per cent."

"Thank you, sir," said Denis warmly, "but I must decline. I'll go and fight the battle for myself, and prove to my father that I am not the weak boy he thinks."

"Quite right. Go and fight the battle for yourself."

"Papa!" whispered Veronica, with a look of agony in her eyes.

"Yes, my dear; it's the best thing he can do. You both feel a bit sore, but you will soon forget the trouble. Good-bye, Denis Rolleston.

You're more of a man than I thought you. Write to me now and then, and let me hear how you are getting on. We shall both be very pleased to hear of your welfare. It's a pity your father is so severe; but there-- all fathers are. I am. Good-bye, my lad. I'd select a good s.h.i.+p, and I wouldn't go steerage."

"Why not?" said Denis, through his set teeth. "Better begin at the bottom, sir."

"Well, yes, my lad, perhaps you had. Now, Very, my dear, say good-bye to him like a woman, and wish him well. Some day in the future you two will meet at dinner and laugh at this rosy-posy boy-and-girl love business. And by the way, Rolleston, my lad, keep your eyes open, and send me any little natural history specimen you find."

"Good-bye, Veronica," said Denis, who did not seem to hear the Doctor's words.

"Good-bye," she said, giving him a wistful look; and her voice was almost inaudible, while her eyes looked dull and her cheeks ashy pale.

He took her cold limp hand, held it for a few moments in his, then turned and rushed out of the house.

"Papa! Father!"

Only two words; but their tone was enough for the Doctor, who caught her to his heart, then placed her in a chair and turned to the window.

"Hi! Denis!" he roared; and the young man turned, coming back in obedience to the signals the Doctor made, and standing once more in the room.

"Look here, sir, you had better have that money: you'll want it over yonder."

"Did you call me back for that, sir?" said the young man bitterly--"to go through this agony again? No: I will make the money I want myself."

"Bravo!" cried the Doctor, seizing his hand. "But you sha'n't go!"

Denis stared.

"Do you think I am going to have my little pet here die of a broken heart, for the sake of you, you ugly young scoundrel? No! you sha'n't go. Here: you stop and comfort Very, and I'll go over to the Manor and bring my Lord Pinemount to his knees."

"Doctor Salado!" cried Denis excitedly. "No, no: it is impossible. You must not go. You would be insulted."

"Then I'll insult him. Here, Very, my pretty: I'm not to let this boy go, am I?"

For answer the girl flung herself upon Denis' breast, and clung there sobbing.

"This--this is too hard, sir!" cried Denis pa.s.sionately.

"I am only man, after all."

"Well, what do you want to be, boy? There, I don't like you, and I don't like your father; but I'm not going to let that stand in the way.

I'm going over to the Manor to bring my lord to his knees."

"You don't know what you are saying," cried Denis. "Veronica, he must not go."

"I do know what I'm saying. Am I not Doctor Salado--a moral magician in my way? Did I not make him give up cutting down the trees?"

"Yes, sir; but you cannot make him retract from driving me off the family tree for a time," said Denis, with a sad smile. "I am only a beggar now, and I must go."

"Indeed you will not. And as for being a beggar, Very here will have plenty for you both."

"Which I could not take."

"Then, confound you, sir!" cried the Doctor, with mock fury, "I'll bring an action against you for breach of promise of marriage. There, pet, don't cry: you shall have your pretty boy."

"Doctor Salado, you must not go. You don't know my father."

"Thoroughly, my lad. There--take heart, both of you. Denis, my lad, you sha'n't be a pensioner on my bounty. Come, I'll bet you five pounds that your father and mother dine here with us to-night, and talk to my Very here as if she were their child, as she has to be."

"Doctor Salado, are you mad?"

"Yes, my lad. I have been all my life, but I'm not at all dangerous.

G.o.d bless you, my lad! I believe in you, and when I come back you'll believe in me."

VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER EIGHT.

DOCTOR SALADO'S MAGIC.

"Take the good the G.o.ds provide you," seemed to be Denis Rolleston's motto, for he was very happy with Veronica, while the Doctor made off across the park, gave the bell at the open door a tremendous tug, and then waited till a serious-looking butler came to the front.

"Tell his lords.h.i.+p I want to see him directly."

"Not at home, sir," said the man stolidly.

"Tell his lords.h.i.+p I want to see him directly," cried the Doctor sternly. "He's in the library: I heard his laugh as I came up to the house."

"But--"

"Stand aside, fellow!" cried the Doctor; and he marched in, flung open the library door, and shut it sharply, as Lord Pinemount rose from his chair pale with rage.

"Morning," said the Doctor. "Sit down. I want a chat with you."

He took a seat coolly, and looked critically at the angry man before him, who was breathless with pa.s.sion.

"How dare you!" he said at last--"how dare you force your presence here!

Go, sir, before I send for the police."

"Don't make a fool of yourself, sir: sit down. You must know that the business is important, or I should not act like this."

"You are a madman, sir!"

"Yes, perhaps: sit down."