Gertrude’s pen, however, again went to work.
The shares were put down at L5,000. ’If
they can only be sold for so much, I think we may
manage it,’ said Mrs. Woodward; ’I am sure
that Harry can get the remainder—indeed
he said he could have more than that.’
‘And what will Linda do?’
’Linda will never want it, love; and if she
did, what of that? would she not give all she has
for you?’
And then Mrs. Woodward went her way to Norman’s
office, without having spoken to Alaric. ‘You
will come again soon, mamma,’ said Gertrude.
Mrs. Woodward promised that she would.
‘And, mamma,’ and she whispered close
into her mother’s ear, as she made her next
request; ’and, mamma, you will be with me on
that day?’
We need not follow Norman in his efforts to have her
full fortune restored to Madame Jaquetanape.
He was daily in connexion with Alaric’s lawyer,
and returned sometimes with hope and sometimes without
it. Mrs. Val’s lawyer would receive no overtures
towards a withdrawal of the charge, or even towards
any mitigation in their proceedings, unless the agent
coming forward on behalf of the lady’s late
trustee, did so with the full sum of L20,000 in his
hands.
We need not follow Charley, who was everyday with
Alaric, and who was, unknown to Alaric, an agent between
him and Norman. ’Well, Charley, what are
they doing to-day?’ was Alaric’s constant
question to him, even up to the very eve of his trial.
If any spirit ever walks it must be that of the stockjobber,
for how can such a one rest in its grave without knowing
what shares are doing?
THE LAST BREAKFAST
And that day was not long in coming; indeed, it came
with terrible alacrity; much too quickly for Gertrude,
much too quickly for Norman; and much too quickly
for Alaric’s lawyer. To Alaric only did
the time pass slowly, for he found himself utterly
without employment.
Norman and Uncle Bat between them had raised something
about L6,000; but when the day came on which they
were prepared to dispose of the shares, the Limehouse
bridge was found to be worth nothing. They were,
as the broker had said, ticklish stock; so ticklish
that no one would have them at any price. When
Undy, together with his agent from Tillietudlem, went
into the market about the same time to dispose of
theirs, they were equally unsuccessful. How the
agent looked and spoke and felt may be imagined; for
the agent had made large advances, and had no other
security; but Undy had borne such looks and speeches
before, and merely said that it was very odd—extremely
odd; he had been greatly deceived by Mr. Piles.
Mr. Piles also said it was very odd; but he did not
appear to be nearly so much annoyed as the agent from
Tillietudlem; and it was whispered that, queer as
things now looked, Messrs. Blocks, Piles, and Cofferdam,
had not made a bad thing of the bridge.
