ELLA'S WARNING
Ella did not say anything more, and in their character of tourists visiting the place, they were admitted to the Abbey and passed on though its magnificent rooms, where was stored a collection rich and rare even for one of the stateliest homes of England.
"What a wonderful place!" Ella sighed wistfully.Yet she could not enjoy the spectacle of all these treasures as she would have done at another time, for she was always watching Allen, who hung about a good deal, and seemed to look more at the locks of the cases that held some of the more valuable of the objects shown than at the things themselves, and generally spent fully half the time in each room at the window, admiring, the view, he said; but for quite another reason, Ella suspected.
"I shall speak when I get back," she said to herself, pale and resolute."I don't care what happens; I don't care if I have to tell mother - perhaps she knows already.Anyhow, I shall speak."Having come to this determination, she grew cheerful and more interested apparently in what they were seeing, as well as less watchful of her companion.When, presently, they left the house to go into the gardens, it happened that they noticed an old gentleman walking at a little distance behind a gate marked "Private," and leaning on the arm of a tall, thin, clean-shaven man of middle-age.
"Lord Chobham, the old gentleman," whispered a tourist, who was standing near."I saw him once in the House of Lords.That's his secretary with him, Mr.Dunsmore, one of the family; he manages everything now the old gentleman is getting so feeble."Ella walked on frowning and a little worried, for she thought she had seen the secretary before and yet could not remember where.
Soon she noticed Dunn, who had apparently been obeying Deede Dawson's orders to look round outside and get to know the lie of the land.
He seemed at present to be a good deal interested in Lord Chobham and his companion, for he went and leaned on the gate and stared at them so rudely that one or two of the other tourists noticed it and frowned at him.But he took no notice, and presently, as if not seeing that the gate was marked "Private," he pushed it open and walked through.
Noticing the impertinent intrusion almost at once, Mr.Dunsmore turned round and called "This is private."Dunn did not seem to hear, and Mr.Dunsmore walked across to him with a very impatient air, while the little group of tourists watched, with much interest and indignation and a very comforting sense of superiority.
"He ought to be sent right out of the grounds," they told each other.
"That's the sort of rude behaviour other people have to suffer for.""Now, my man," said Mr.Dunsmore sharply, "this is private, you've no business here.""Sorry, sir; beg pardon, I'm sure," said Dunn, touching his hat, and as he did so he said in a sharp, penetrating whisper: "Look out -trouble's brewing - don't know what, but look out, all the time."He had spoken so quickly and quietly, in the very act of turning away, that none of the onlookers could have told that a word had passed, but for the very violent start that Walter Dunsmore made and his quick movement forward as if to follow the other.Immediately Dunn turned back towards him with a swift warning gesture of his hand.
"Careful, you fool, they're looking," he said in a quick whisper, and in a loud voice : "Very sorry, sir; beg pardon - I'm sure I didn't mean anything."Walter Dunsmore swung round upon his heel and went quickly back to where Lord Chobham waited; and his face was like that of one who has gazed into the very eyes of death.
"Lord in Heaven," he muttered, "it's all over, I'm done." And his hand felt for a little metal box he carried in his waistcoat pocket and that held half a dozen small round tablets, each of them a strong man's death.
But he took his hand away again as he rejoined his cousin, patron, and employer, old Lord Chobham.
"What's the matter, Walter?" Lord Chobham asked."You look pale.""The fellow was a bit impudent; he made me angry," said Walter carelessly.He fingered the little box in his waistcoat pocket and thought how one tablet on his tongue would always end it all."By the way, oughtn't Rupert to be back soon?" he asked.
"Yes, he ought," said Lord Chobham severely."It's time he married and settled down - I shall speak to his father about it.The boy is always rushing off somewhere or another when he ought to be getting to know the estate and the tenants."Walter Dunsmore laughed.
"I think he knows them both fairly well already," he said."Not a tenant on the place but swears by Rupert.He's a fine fellow, uncle.""Oh, you always stick up for him; you and he were always friends,"answered Lord Chobham in a grumbling tone, but really very pleased.
"I know I'm never allowed to say a word about Rupert.""Well, he's a fine fellow and a good friend," said Walter, and the two disappeared into the house by a small side-door as Dunn pushed his way through the group of tourists who looked at him with marked and severe disapproval.
"Disgraceful," one of them said quite loudly, and another added: "Ibelieve he said something impudent to that gentleman.I saw him go quite white, and look as if he were in two minds about ordering the fellow right out of the grounds." And a third expressed the general opinion that the culprit looked a real ruffian with all that hair on his face."Might be a gorilla," said the third tourist."And look what a clumsy sort of walk he has; perhaps he's been drinking."But Dunn was quite indifferent to, and indeed unaware of this popular condemnation as he made his way back to the hotel garage where he had left their car.He seemed rather well pleased than otherwise as he walked on.
