第40章

STELLA ASSERTS HERSELF.

Two days after Father Benwell had posted his letter to Rome, Lady Loring entered her husband's study, and asked eagerly if he had heard any news of Romayne.

Lord Loring shook his head."As I told you yesterday," he said, "the proprietor of the hotel can give me no information.I went myself this morning to the bankers, and saw the head partner.He offered to forward letters, but he could do no more.Until further notice, he was positively enjoined not to disclose Romayne's address to anybody.How does Stella bear it?""In the worst possible way," Lady Loring answered."In silence.""Not a word even to you?"

"Not a word."

At that reply, the servant interrupted them by announcing the arrival of a visitor, and presenting his card.Lord Loring started, and handed it to his wife.The card bore the name of "Major Hynd," and this line was added in pencil: "On business connected with Mr.Romayne.""Show him in directly!" cried Lady Loring.

Lord Loring remonstrated."My dear! perhaps I had better see this gentleman alone?""Certainly not--unless you wish to drive me into committing an act of the most revolting meanness! If you send me away I shall listen at the door."Major Hynd was shown in, and was duly presented to Lady Loring.

After making the customary apologies, he said: "I returned to London last night, expressly to see Romayne on a matter of importance.Failing to discover his present address at the hotel, I had the hope that your lordship might be able to direct me to our friend."I am sorry to say I know no more than you do," Lord Loring replied."Romayne's present address is a secret confided to his bankers, and to no one else.I will give you their names, if you wish to write to him.

Major Hynd hesitated."I am not quite sure that it would be discreet to write to him, under the circumstances."Lady Loring could no longer keep silence."Is it possible, Major Hynd, to tell us what the circumstances are?" she asked."I am almost as old a friend of Romayne as my husband--and I am very anxious about him."The Major looked embarrassed."I can hardly answer your ladyship," he said, "without reviving painful recollections--"Lady Loring's impatience interrupted the Major's apologies."Do you mean the duel?" she inquired.

Lord Loring interposed."I should tell you, Major Hynd, that Lady Loring is as well informed as I am of what happened at Boulogne, and of the deplorable result, so far as Romayne is concerned.If you still wish to speak to me privately, I will ask you to accompany me into the next room."Major Hynd's embarrassment vanished."After what you tell me," he said, "I hope to be favored with Lady Loring's advice.You both know that Romayne fought the fatal duel with a son of the French General who had challenged him.When we returned to England, we heard that the General and his family had been driven away from Boulogne by pecuniary difficulties.Romayne, against my advice, wrote to the surgeon who had been present at the duel, desiring that the General's place of retreat might be discovered, and expressing his wish to assist the family anonymously, as their Unknown Friend.The motive, of course, was, in his own words, 'to make some little atonement to the poor people whom he had wronged.' I thought it a rash proceeding at the time; and I am confirmed in my opinion by a letter from the surgeon, received yesterday.Will you kindly read it to Lady Loring?"He handed the letter to Lord Loring.Translated from the French, it ran as follows:

"SIR--I am at last able to answer Mr.Romayne's letter definitely, with the courteous assistance of the French Consul in London, to whom I applied when other means of investigation had produced no result.

"A week since the General died, circumstances connected with the burial expenses informed the Consul that he had taken refuge from his creditors, not in Paris as we supposed, but in London.The address is, Number 10, Camp's Hill, Islington.I should also add that the General, for obvious reasons, lived in London under the assumed name of Marillac.It will be necessary, therefore, to inquire for his widow by the name of Madame Marillac.

"You will perhaps be surprised to find that I address these lines to you, instead of to Mr.Romayne.The reason is soon told.

"I was acquainted with the late General--as you know--at a time when I was not aware of the company that he kept, or of the deplorable errors into which his love of gambling had betrayed him.Of his widow and his children I know absolutely nothing.