The Protector Part 16

"I wonder if he has told anybody, though it's scarcely likely," she said.

"Of course he hasn't. We all know what Gerald is. Wallace ought to get his money back, now you have sent him away," Mabel, who had waited a moment or two, went on. "But, of course, that's most unlikely. It wouldn't take Gerald long to waste it."

Evelyn rose, and, making some excuse, left the room. A suspicion which had troubled her more than Gerald's conduct had lately crept into her mind, and it now thrust itself upon her attention--several things pointed to the fact that her father had taken a similar course to that which her brother had taken. She felt that had she heard Mabel's information before the interview with Vane, she might have yielded to him in an agony of humiliation. Mabel had summed up the situation with stinging candour and crudity--Vane, who had been defrauded, was ent.i.tled to recover the money he had parted with. For a few moments Evelyn was furiously angry with him, and then, growing calmer, she recognised that this was unreasonable. She could not imagine any idea of a compact originating with the man, and he had quietly acquiesced in her decision.

Soon after she left her sister, Vane walked into the room which Chisholm reserved for his own use. Chisholm was sitting at the table with some papers in front of him and a cigar in his hand, and Vane drew out a chair and lighted his pipe before he addressed him.

"I've made up my mind to sail on Sat.u.r.day, instead of next week," he said.

"You have decided rather suddenly, haven't you?"

Vane knew that what his host wished to inquire about was the cause of his decision, and he meant to come to the point. He was troubled by no consideration for the man.

"The last news I had indicated that I was wanted," he replied. "After all, there was only one reason why I have abused Mrs. Chisholm's hospitality so long."

"Well?" said Chisholm, with an abruptness which hinted at anxiety.

"You will remember what I asked you some time ago. I had better say that I abandon the idea."

Chisholm started, and his florid face grew redder while Vane, in place of embarra.s.sment, was conscious of a somewhat grim amus.e.m.e.nt. It seemed strange that a man of Chisholm's stamp should have any pride, but he evidently possessed it.

"What am I to understand by that?" he asked with some asperity.

"I think what I said explained it. Bearing in mind your and Mrs.

Chisholm's influence, I've an idea that Evelyn might have yielded, if I'd strongly urged my suit; but that was not by any means what I wanted.

I'd naturally prefer a wife who married me because she wished to do so.

That's why, after thinking the thing over, I've decided to--withdraw."

Chisholm straightened himself in his chair, in fiery indignation, which he made no attempt to conceal.

"You mean that after asking my consent and seeing more of Evelyn, you have changed your mind. Can't you understand that it's an unpardonable confession; one which I never fancied a man born and brought up in your station could have brought himself to make."

Vane looked at him with an impa.s.sive face. "It strikes me as largely a question of terms--I mayn't have used the right one. Now you know how the matter stands, you can describe it in any way that sounds nicest. In regard to your other remark, I've been in a good many stations, and I must admit that until lately none of them were likely to promote much delicacy of sentiment."

"So it seems," Chisholm was almost too hot to sneer. "But can't you realise how your action reflects upon my daughter?"

Vane held himself in hand. He had only one object: to divert Chisholm's wrath from Evelyn to himself and he thought he was succeeding in this.

For the rest, he cherished a strong resentment against the man.

"It can't reflect upon her, unless you talk about it, and both you and Mrs. Chisholm have sense enough to refrain from doing so," he answered dryly. "I can't flatter myself that Evelyn will grieve over me." Then his manner changed. "Now we'll get down to business. I don't purpose to call that loan in, which will, no doubt, be a relief to you."

He rose leisurely and, strolling out of the room, met Carroll shortly afterwards in the hall. The latter glanced at him sharply.

"What have you been doing?" he inquired. "There's a look I seem to remember in your eye."

"I suppose I've been outraging the rules of decency, but I don't feel ashamed. I've been acting the uncivilised Westerner, though it's possible that I rather strained the part. To come to the point, however, we pull out for the Dominion first thing to-morrow."

Carroll asked no further questions. He did not think it would serve any purpose, and he contented himself with making arrangements for their departure, which they took early on the morrow. Vane had a brief interview with Mabel, who shed some tears over him, and then by her contrivance secured a word or two with Evelyn alone.

"Now," he said, "it's possible that you may hear some hard things of me, and I count upon your not contradicting them. After all, I think you owe me that favour. There's just another matter--as I won't be here to trouble you, try to think of me leniently."

He held her hand for a moment and then turned away, and a few minutes later he and Carroll left the Dene.

CHAPTER XII

VANE GROWS RESTLESS.

Vane had been back in Vancouver a fortnight when he sat one evening on the verandah of Nairn's house in company with his host and Carroll, lazily looking down upon the inlet.

Nairn referred to one of the papers in his hand.

"Horsfield has been bringing up that smelter project again, and there's something to be said in favour of his views," he remarked. "We're paying a good deal for reduction."

"We couldn't keep a smelter going at present," Vane objected.

"There are two or three low-grade mineral properties in the neighbourhood of the Clermont that have only had a little development work done on them," Nairn pointed out. "They can't pay freight on their raw product; but I'm thinking we'd encourage their owners to open up the mines, and get their business, if we had a smelter handy."

"It wouldn't amount to much," Vane replied. "Besides, there's another objection--we haven't the dollars to put up a thoroughly efficient plant."

"Horsfield's ready to find part of them and do the work."

"I know he is," said Vane. "He's suspiciously eager. The arrangement would give him a pretty strong hold upon the company; there are ways in which he could squeeze us."

"It's possible. But, looking at it as a personal matter, there are inducements he could offer ye. Horsfield's a man who has the handling of other folks' dollars, as weel as a good many of his own. It might be wise to stand in with him."

"So he hinted," Vane answered shortly.

"Your argument was about the worst you could have used, Mr. Nairn,"

Carroll broke in, laughing.

"Weel," said Nairn, good-humouredly, "I'm no urging it. I would not see your partner make enemies for the want of a warning."

"He'd probably do so, in any case; it's a gift of his," said Carroll.

"On the other hand, it's fortunate he has a way of making friends: the two things sometimes go together."

Vane turned to Nairn with signs of impatience. "It might save trouble if I state that while I'm a director of the Clermont I expect to be content with a fair profit on my stock in the company."

"He's modest," Carroll commented. "What he means is that he doesn't propose to augment that profit by taking advantage of his position."

"It's a creditable idea, though I'm no sure it's as common as might be desired. While I have to thank ye for it, I would not consider the explanation altogether necessary," said Nairn, whose eyes twinkled. Then he addressed Vane: "Now we come to another point--the company's a small one, the mine is doing satisfactorily, and the moment's favourable for the floating of mineral properties. If we got an option on the half-developed claims near the Clermont and went into the market, it's likely that an issue of new stock would meet with investors' favour."

"I suppose so," said Vane. "I'll support such a scheme, when I can see how an increased capital could be used to advantage and I am convinced about the need for a smelter. At present, that's not the case."

"I mentioned it as a duty--ye'll hear more of it; for the rest, I'm inclined to agree with ye," Nairn replied.