Gammon grew perplexed in mind and shadowed in countenance.
Of a truth Polly Sparkes had not once entered his
mind since he saw her yesterday. But he must
see her again, and that to-night. Whew! He
would now have given a substantial sum to deprive Polly
of the knowledge he had so recklessly confided to
her.
“You are impulsive, my friend,” remarked
the other, quietly amused. “Impulsive and
lacking in foresight.”
“And you—Never mind; I won’t
say it. Still, you used to be a puzzle to me,
Greenacre; now I feel as if I was beginning to understand
you a bit.”
The man of foresight—he was remarkably
well-dressed this evening—watched the smoke
from his cigarette and smiled.
THE TRAVELLER’S FICKLENESS AND FRAUD
In due course a coroner and his jury sat on the body
of Lord Polperro; in the order of things this inquest
was publicly reported.
Readers of newspapers learnt that the eccentric nobleman,
though in a weak state of health, had the indiscretion
to mingle with a crowd on New Year’s Eve; that
he either accidentally fell or was knocked down by
some person unknown in the rough-and-tumble of the
hour; in short, that his death might fairly be accounted
for by misadventure. The results of the autopsy
were not made known in detail, but a professional
whisper went about that among the causes contributory
to Lord Polperro’s death were congestion of the
lungs, softening of the brain, chronic inflammation
of the stomach, drunkard’s liver, and Bright’s
disease of the kidneys.
The unprofessional persons who came forward were Mr.
Gammon, Lord Polperro’s housekeeper, and Miss
Trefoyle. The name of Greenacre was not so much
as mentioned; the existence of a lady named Mrs. Clover
remained unknown to court and public.
On the following day Mr. Gammon had a private interview
with Miss Trefoyle. He was aware that this privilege
had already been sought by and granted to Mr. Greenacre,
and as his one great object was to avert shame and
sorrow from his friends at Battersea Park, Gammon
acquitted himself with entire discretion; that is to
say, he did not allow Miss Trefoyle to suspect that
there had been anything between him and her brother
except a sort of boon companionship. In behaving
thus he knew that he was acting as Mrs. Clover most
earnestly desired. Not many hours before he had
discharged what he felt to be his duty, had made known
to Mrs. Clover the facts of her position, and had
heard the unforgettable accent of her voice as she
entreated him to keep this secret. That there
might be no doubt as to the truth of Greenacre’s
assertions he had accompanied that gentleman to Somerset
House, and had perused certain entries in the registers
of marriage and of death indicated to him by his friend’s
forefinger; clearly then, if he and Greenacre kept
silence, it would never become known, even to Polperro’s
kinsfolk, that his lordship had been guilty of bigamy.
