The following afternoon, as the London evening papers were publishing

what they were pleased to call "A Romance in High Life," Derrick and his

father made their way through an excited crowd, which had gathered about

the Court House. Affairs there had proceeded as Mr. Jacobs had

prophesied; the magistrates had listened with amazement, not only to Mr.

Jacobs' statement, but to the announcement which Mr. Clendon had made of

his identity and his relationship to Derrick; and the worthy chairman,

Sir Courtenay Comber, using almost the identical words Mr. Jacobs had

attributed to him, had congratulated Derrick and informed him that he

left the Court "without a stain on his character." Notwithstanding its

satisfactory conclusion, the ordeal had been a trying one for father and

son, and Derrick looked pale and somewhat worn as he grasped the hand of

Reggie, who had been in Court, and had hurried after him to congratulate

him.

"I've got a carriage here for you, round the corner," he said; "and I've

succeeded in stopping them ringing the bells."

"I'm glad," said Derrick; "but why should they want to ring the bells?"

"Well, you see," explained Reggie, as he led them to the carriage,

"Lord Heyton--I mean the other man--is not a great favourite; whereas,

somehow or other, you have caught the popular imagination; besides,

it has leaked out that you are going to marry Miss Grant; and

she is tremendously popular. She has been very kind, in the

do-good-and-blush-to-find-it-known way, to the poor people about her;

and Susie has told a good many of Miss Grant's angelic kindnesses to

her. Hence these tears," he added, as the people crowded about them and

cheered heartily. "Where shall I tell the man to drive, my lord?"

"To the Hall," replied Mr. Clendon gravely. "Yes," he said to Derrick,

as the carriage drove off, "the Marquess--I mean your uncle, Talbot,

wants to see you, naturally."

"You have told him?" said Derrick. "Poor man!"

"Yes, I have told him; and, strangely enough, he welcomed the news. And

yet it is not strange; for, alas! he knew the character of his son, knew

that he was not worthy to bear the title. There is something more on my

brother's mind than I am cognisant of. Some secret which worries him,"

he added.

Derrick remained silent. He dared not probe the mystery of the hidden

jewel-case, of Heyton's sudden flight; but it was evident to him that

Mr. Jacobs intended to conceal any knowledge he might have, and Derrick

was only too thankful to concur in that concealment.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024