“Duveleste rye!” was her final greeting, and she disappeared swiftly, but the young man did not know that the Romany farewell meant, “God bless you!”

CHAPTER XX.

The destined end.

As might have been anticipated, Lord Garvington was in anything but a happy frame of mind.  He left Silver in almost a fainting condition, and returned to The Manor feeling very sick himself.  The two cowardly little men had not the necessary pluck of conspirators, and now that there seemed to be a very good chance that their nefarious doings would be made public they were both in deadly fear of the consequences.  Silver was in the worst plight, since he was well aware that the law would consider him to be an accessory after the fact, and that, although his neck was not in danger, his liberty assuredly was.  He was so stunned by the storm which had broken so unexpectedly over his head, that he had not even the sense to run away.  All manly grit—­what he possessed of it—­had been knocked out of him, and he could only whimper over the fire while waiting for Lambert to act.

Garvington was not quite so downhearted, as he knew that his cousin was anxious to consider the fair fame of the family.  Thinking thus, he felt a trifle reassured, for the forged letter could not be made public without a slur being cast on the name.  Then, again, Garvington knew that he was innocent of designing Pine’s death, and that, even if Lambert did inform the police, he could not be arrested.  It is only just to say that had the little man known of Miss Greeby’s intention to murder the millionaire, he would never have written the letter which lured the man to his doom.  And for two reasons:  in the first place he was too cowardly to risk his neck; and in the second Pine was of more value to him alive than dead.  Comforting himself with this reflection, he managed to maintain a fairly calm demeanor before his wife.

But on this night Lady Garvington was particularly exasperating, for she constantly asked questions which the husband did not feel inclined to answer.  Having heard that Lambert was in the village, she wished to know why he had not been asked to stay at The Manor, and defended the young man when Garvington pointed out that an iniquitous person who had robbed Agnes of two millions could not be tolerated by the man—­Garvington meant himself—­he had wronged.  Then Jane inquired why Lambert had brought Chaldea to the house, and what had passed in the library, but received no answer, save a growl.  Finally she insisted that Freddy had lost his appetite, which was perfectly true.

“And I thought you liked that way of dressing a fish so much, dear,” was her wail.  “I never seem to quite hit your taste.”

“Oh, bother:  leave me alone, Jane.  I’m worried.”

“I know you are, for you have eaten so little.  What is the matter?”