June 9, 2025 • 24 mins
Delve into an enchanting world of romance and mystery with Late Tenant. This early masterpiece by esteemed British journalist and author Louis Tracy, penning as Gordon Holmes, is sure to captivate you. Known for his thrilling mysteries such as The Albert Gate Mystery and The Postmaster’s Daughter, Tracy dabbles in the romantic genre with a touch of the supernatural. The story weaves together two intense love narratives - one heart-wrenching, the other just beginning - amidst a puzzling mystery. Find a dash of classic British humor and a hint of the supernatural in this engaging tale. - Summary by Kirsten Wever.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter eighteen of The Late Tenant by Gordon Holmes. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. From the depths,
Violet entered the drawing room with the air of one
who rejoices in good news. Consider that she had just
learned the certainty of her sister's fair fame, and that
(00:23):
in the same breath she was freed from Van Hupfeldt's pestering.
Was it to be wondered at if, since the dread
day she received a letter from a loved one already dead.
She had never once looked so light hearted, so full
of the wine of life, as when she danced into
(00:44):
the house after her interview with David. And this quickening
of her pulses boded no good to Van Hupfeldt. A
lawyer like man, was arranging parchments on a table, a
large square table which had evidently been brought from a
library for the purpose. As the day was chill indoors
(01:06):
and the drawing room was cozy with a log fire.
Van Hupfeldt, who had turned from the window before Violet appeared,
affected to be examining the great red seals on the
green ribbons laced into the vellum that weak heart of
his was knocking hard at his ribs, but his lips
(01:29):
were tight set. He was fighting with his back to
the wall. For that interloper. David Harcourt must have told
Violet everything. So really, Van Hupfeldt deserved some consideration for
his splendid nonchalance. Missus Mordaunt sat in an easy chair,
(01:50):
stroking her toy palm. She was anxious for these preliminaries
to be done with Dale Manor was an expensive place
to keep keep up. Van Hupfeldt's millions would restore the
Valerian order, so she hailed her daughter pleasantly after one
critical once, your little walk did indeed bring out the
(02:14):
roses by, but you were rather beyond the ten minutes.
And mister Sharp is a business man, dear, we must
not detain him unduly. Mister Sharp coughed with deference. He
was open to be detained or retained for the rest
of his life, at the price per diem ah. Yes,
(02:38):
said Violet, softly, giving Van hupfelt a queer look which
he alone understood. There are things to be signed, something
about some one of the first part and some other
person of the second part. Why do you use such
odd terms, mister Sharp, it's the jargon of the law,
(03:01):
Miss Mordaunt. Every line adds a might to the small
incomes of us poor lawyers. But who are all these people?
Sharp looked puzzled. The first deed recites the marriage contract
between you and mister van Hupfeldt. He began to explain.
(03:22):
A violet said, and her words had the cold clink
of ice in a glass. Who is mister van Hupfeldt?
Why this from missus mordaunt? Mother, I better not interfere here.
You don't seem to understand, mister Sharp. You spoke of
a mister Henry van Hupfeldt. Who is he? The lawyer,
(03:48):
smirking at the hidden joke, pointed to the man standing
by the table. Of course, that is he. He said, Oh,
I know that is Johannstrass, the man who married and
it may be found killed. My sister. You must look
further into your papers, mister Sharp. There is some terrible mistake.
(04:12):
Perhaps if you went on your knees and prayed to
God for guidance in your work, it might be better.
They seated her mother again, and the dog in her
lap sprang off in alarm. The solicitor stood dumbfounded, still
thinking that some bizarre piece of humor was toward. It
(04:36):
was Van Hupfeldt who saved Missus Nordalf from imminent hysteria.
Violet has been talking to that fellow Harcourt, of whom
I told you, He said coolly. She is unfortunately only
too ready to believe him, and a further wall of
distrust is built between us at a most inopportune moments.
(04:59):
I am sorry, Mordaunt. It is not my fault, and
I would have saved you from this, Violet. I knew
he had left London, so I wired precautions. But he
is a scamp of unparalleled audacity and resource. Surely you
have given him no money. Violet, scarce, trusting her ears,
(05:22):
listened to the calm, smooth sentences with rising indignation, but
she mastered herself sufficiently to say, he has told me
everything about the certificates, the diary, and all the time
of lies has passed. Did you then kill my sister?
(05:43):
Why condense the tale? Of course, he assured you that Dibbon,
the agent who let the flat to your sister's husband,
will readily identify me as Strauss. That Sarah gissing her
servant will hail me as her former master. Yes, he
did say that, why did he not bring them here?
(06:05):
He will bring them tomorrow. Van Hupfelt smiled wearily. It
seemed as though he could not help himself. Forgive me, Violet,
he said, it is I who will bring them, not Harcourt.
He dare not his bubble bursts the moment you asked
(06:26):
for proof, Indeed, I am beginning to think the man
is mad. He must have conceived an insane affection for you,
and you are committing a great wrong in giving him
these clandestine meetings. This was too much. Violet advanced toward
him with eyes aflame. There were days in the history
(06:50):
of the world when men were struck dead from heaven.
She cried, that is yet possible, he asked, answered with
a strange humility. Do you deny all all? She almost screamed.
Not only do I deny, but I affirm and I
(07:13):
have my proofs. I have known for some time, not
very long. It is true that a man named Johann
Strauss did assume my name when he married your sister.
There is nothing remarkable in that. I am a rich
man known to many the adoption of a pseudonym is
(07:35):
a common device of actors. There was no real resemblance
between this person Strauss and myself. Of that fact, those
who were well acquainted with him, Dibbon and Sarah Gissing
will assure you tomorrow in this house, I have your
sister's marriage certificate and the birth registration of her child.
(07:58):
I know where the child is. I will bring the
foster mother to tell you that I was not the
man who entrusted the infant to her care. I have
your sister's diary, which this Harcourt did really secure. I
got it from him by a trick, I admit, but
only to save you from becoming his dupe. Now I
(08:22):
have placed all my cards on the table by the
side of your marriage settlement. Can David Harcourt do as much?
The girl's lips quivered a little. What was she to believe? In?
Whom was she to trust? She wanted to cry, but
she dug her nails into her white hands for the
(08:45):
encircling clasp of David's arms still tangled on her shoulders.
Why do you tell me all this only when I
force it from you, she asked. You answer your own question,
You force it from me exactly. I would prefer that
(09:06):
my promised wife should have trust in me. I wished
to spare you certain sordid revelations. But because some American
adventurer happens upon a family tragedy and uses it for
his own purposes, whether base or not, I do not
stop to inquire. You treat me as the one quite
(09:28):
unworthy of belief. Violet, you hurt me more than you know.
The man's voice broke, tears stood in his eyes. The
girl was nearly distraught under the stress of the struggle
going on within her. Henry van hopfelt, she said, solemnly,
(09:49):
looking him straight in the face. May the Lord judge
between me and you if I have wronged you? No,
sweet girl, you cannot wrong me. For my My conscience
is clear. But it is a hard thing that you
should incline rather to this blackmailer than to me. Blackmailer,
(10:10):
The ugly word came from her lips in sheer protest.
The lash of a whip could not have stung as cruelly. Yes,
most certainly, did he not demand a hundred pounds from you?
Let me go to him and offer five hundred, and
you will never see or hear of him again. Oh,
(10:32):
if that is so, there is no faith or honesty
anywhere in the world. Is he your world? Then demanded
Van Hopfeldt bitterly, and even missus Mordaunt broke in with
her moan, Oh, fy let us end in this distressing scene,
went on Van Hopfeldt with a repressed indignation that was
(10:56):
exceedingly convincing. Mister Sharpe, you see, of course, that Miss
Mordau cannot be expected to complete these arrangements to day.
Please be here tomorrow morning at the same time before
that hour, I shall be back from London with all
the witnesses and documents which shall prove to Miss Mordaut's
(11:19):
complete satisfaction that she has been grossly misled by a
cleverly concocted story. Indeed, I would be glad if subsequently
you interviewed this David Harcourt. It seems to me almost
credible now that he himself believed the extraordinary tale he's
made up. Whatever you please shall be done, sir, said
(11:43):
the lawyer. And may I add, for the benefits of
these two ladies that earn My own knowledge of your
position and career completely excludes such a preposterous. Thank you,
mister sharp broke In van Hupfeldt. You mean that kindly,
(12:04):
I know, but this is a matter between miss Mordaunt
and myself. At the moment, the solicitor gathered up his
papers and withdrew. For a little while, there was no
sound in the room except the mother's sobbing and the
daughter's labored breathing. For unhappy Violet was so torn with
(12:25):
doubt that her breast appeared to be unable to harbor
its agitation. A few minutes ago, she deemed herself free
from a compact hateful to her soul. Yet here was
Van hupfelt more convincing, more compelling than ever to her
terrified eyes. The man assumed the shape and properties of
(12:47):
a python, a monstrous snake from which there was no escape,
And then the sibilant hiss of his voice reached her
dulled ears. Missus Mordaunt, may I appeal to your authority?
Surely this harcourt will not be admitted here in my absence.
(13:10):
I do not ask much, only a respite of twenty
four hours. Then I return with all the proofs. Why
then have they been withheld so long? Came Violet's agonized protest,
I do declare VI broke in her mother that you
(13:31):
would try the patience of job. Have you lost all
your fine sense of honor and fairness? What more can
mister van Hupfeldt do to please you? And where do
you meet this young man who so unwarrantably thrusts himself
into our affairs? I should like to know. Poor Violet
(13:52):
knew that the British matron instinct was fighting against her now,
and there never was a girl more bound up in
her family ties than this one. Forgive me, mother, she
said wearily. The long struggle is at an end. Now.
Let mister van Hupfelt keep his promise, and I shall
(14:14):
not cause further difficulty. Well, said cried van Holpfeldt eagerly.
That is a brave resolution. I accept it implicitly, missus mordaunt.
I trust you will not be angry with my Violet
while I am away. I know how she has suffered.
(14:35):
It is for me to make amends for all that,
and I promise her happiness a full cup of it.
And meanwhile, a Violet, I agree. I neither see, nor
speak to, nor send any message to David Harcourt as
far as lies in my power until you return tomorrow.
(14:57):
I kiss my hand to you, both, cried Van Hupfeldt
with the gallant air which came naturally to him, and
he went out. His preparations were soon made. A carriage
took him to the station, But before he quitted the manner,
he sent for the gamekeeper. You were remiss in your duty,
(15:18):
he said sternly to the man. The person of whom
I warned you has been in the park and has
spoken to Miss Violet. Now listen carefully to what I say.
Obtain any help you require, and guard this house and
its grounds, so that not a bird can fly over it,
nor a rabbit scamper among the bushes without your knowledge.
(15:43):
Do this until I return tomorrow, and I give you
fifty pounds. But fail in the least particular and you
will be dismissed. Instantly he was gone with a rush
of whipped horses. Velveteene's took thought twice in one day.
(16:05):
He growled, the licking or the sack and fifty quid
or the sack? Oh, which is it to be? It
might be one or all or none of such first's
seconds and thirds is the acrostic of life. Made up,
(16:26):
but the promise of money stirred the man's dull wits.
No watch dog could have been more faithful to his trust,
and by lavish offers of silver and beer deferred luxuries.
Of course, he secured the aid of certain local poachers,
his lasting enemies, but his friends for the night. In
(16:49):
a word, if David had crept again into the park,
he would probably have been beaten to a jelly. But
David attempted nothing of the sort. He was loyal to
his pact with Violet, never dreaming of the ordeal to
which the girl had been submitted. Nevertheless, having no sort
(17:10):
of occupation, he kept his eyes and ears open. He
saw sharp drive through the village and was told that
the lawyer was head of a trusted firm in the
county town. He saw Van Hupfeldt pass towards the station,
and the ostler learned from a railway porter that the
(17:30):
gentleman from the Manor had gone to London. This gave
David cause to think, seeing that there was no news
from Violet. But he waited with much hope and some
spasms of miserableness, through the long dull evening, heard nothing
from her. Went to bed tossed restlessly until the sun rose,
(17:55):
met the village postman at the door of the inn,
and still received no tidings. He breakfasted, hung about, watched
the road, sauntered as far as the lodge, nodded affably
to velveteens behind the bars, and caught no glimpse of violet.
Then he determined to break the spell of silence. He
(18:19):
returned to the inn and wrote a letter, which he
entrusted to his Majesty's postmaster General for express delivery. Sure enough,
the postmistress's younger sister refused to be turned back by
the cerberus at the gate, nor would she tell her business.
The man knew her, suspected her errand, but dared not interfere,
(18:42):
having a wholesale regard for the law. So all he
could do was to note for coming and going, and
report to his briber, for he was Missus Mordaunt's servant.
And this is what David wrote, My dear one, Can
it be that some newly conceived lie has kept you
(19:04):
from sending for me? I only ask your full inquiry.
I stand or fall by that, but spare me this silence,
for I am eating my heart out yours, David. The
messenger tripped back. No answer, sir, she said, and the
word smote David such a blow that his cheek blanched,
(19:26):
While the girl wondered to whom did you hand my
note to miss Violet? Sir? Are you sure? Oh? Yes, sir,
gave it to her myself and she read it. Yes, sir,
did she say anything? Just that? Sir? No answer. Then David,
in a mighty wrath and fume, dashed off another note.
(19:50):
Very well be it? So I returned to London. God
help you. If you marry that man, you will sink
to the pit, and the angels alone will be able
to lift you. Therefrom that there be no error this time.
I leave for London at one fifteen p m. If
you want me, you must either detain me now or
(20:10):
come to me in London. Back went the postmistress's sister,
marveling at the strangeness of these one sided missives between
the young woman of the manner and a handsome young
man at the feathers. Being seventeen, she took David's side
as against Violet, so she added on her own account.
When she saw the white faced aristocrat in the house,
(20:34):
the explanatory statement that the young gentleman seemed to be
very much upset at receiving no reply. Poor Violet, in
whom loyalty was hereditary, could not break her word, But
she did say, I have no message to day, but
I know mister Harcourt's address. That was the only crumb
(20:58):
of comfort vouchsafed to away he went that quarter past one.
Nor did the volcano in him show any sign of
subsidence when he reached the gloom and shadows of Number
seven Eddystone Mansions. For a little drop of acutest poison
had been poured into his ear by the gossip of
(21:19):
the village. In the bar over night he heard yokels
talking of the need of money at the big house,
how Van Heppfeldt's wealth would make the flowers grow again
in Rigsworth. He smiled at the conceit. Then now he
knew that deadly nightshade was sown in the garden of
(21:40):
his hopes, For he imagined that money had proved more
potent than love. It was a remarkable thing that, of
all the pictures in the flat he had left untouched
the portrait and Shock which hung over the dining room fireplace.
It savored too much of sacri to disturb that ethereal face.
(22:04):
But David was in far too savage a mood to
check that sentiment. During those dark hours, he surveyed the
portrait almost vindictively, though had he been less bitter, he
might have seen a reassuring smile in the parted lips.
So it came to pass that, after eating some dry bread,
(22:24):
which was the only food he found in the larder,
he lit a pipe, looked at the picture again, and
yielded to the impulse to examine it. Strong as were
his nerves, he had to force himself to apply a
knife to its brown papered back, and then, with a queer,
vindictive howl of triumph, he drew forth a curiously insipid
(22:48):
portrait of van Hupfeldt, inscribed to when with a date,
and folded behind it a terrible little notely dated Paris Tuesday,
which read, my poor girl. At last, then you force
(23:09):
the miserable truth from me. Missus Strauss is my wife.
She is twice my age. She forced me to marry
her ten years ago for her money. She is indeed dying,
And then I can fly to you for the sake
of our boy, forgive me. There was something sadly animal
(23:32):
in David's triumph. He felt like a dog which has
seized the rat after which it has been straining. And
in a minute or two he had the grace to
be ashamed of himself. Then he thought of violence, and
he broke down, crying like a child. Those tears were
good for him, They brought him back to sanity and
(23:54):
garnished the dark places of his heart. But what to do,
that was more than ever the problem. He bolted and
barred his door that night, and the photograph and letter
lay beside his revolver under his pillow. Not forty van
Uppfeldts nor a legion of ghosts should reave him of
(24:15):
those telling pieces of evidence. End of Chapter eighteen.
Chapter eighteen of The Late Tenant by Gordon Holmes. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. From the depths,
Violet entered the drawing room with the air of one
who rejoices in good news. Consider that she had just
learned the certainty of her sister's fair fame, and that
(00:23):
in the same breath she was freed from Van Hupfeldt's pestering.
Was it to be wondered at if, since the dread
day she received a letter from a loved one already dead.
She had never once looked so light hearted, so full
of the wine of life, as when she danced into
(00:44):
the house after her interview with David. And this quickening
of her pulses boded no good to Van Hupfeldt. A
lawyer like man, was arranging parchments on a table, a
large square table which had evidently been brought from a
library for the purpose. As the day was chill indoors
(01:06):
and the drawing room was cozy with a log fire.
Van Hupfeldt, who had turned from the window before Violet appeared,
affected to be examining the great red seals on the
green ribbons laced into the vellum that weak heart of
his was knocking hard at his ribs, but his lips
(01:29):
were tight set. He was fighting with his back to
the wall. For that interloper. David Harcourt must have told
Violet everything. So really, Van Hupfeldt deserved some consideration for
his splendid nonchalance. Missus Mordaunt sat in an easy chair,
(01:50):
stroking her toy palm. She was anxious for these preliminaries
to be done with Dale Manor was an expensive place
to keep keep up. Van Hupfeldt's millions would restore the
Valerian order, so she hailed her daughter pleasantly after one
critical once, your little walk did indeed bring out the
(02:14):
roses by, but you were rather beyond the ten minutes.
And mister Sharp is a business man, dear, we must
not detain him unduly. Mister Sharp coughed with deference. He
was open to be detained or retained for the rest
of his life, at the price per diem ah. Yes,
(02:38):
said Violet, softly, giving Van hupfelt a queer look which
he alone understood. There are things to be signed, something
about some one of the first part and some other
person of the second part. Why do you use such
odd terms, mister Sharp, it's the jargon of the law,
(03:01):
Miss Mordaunt. Every line adds a might to the small
incomes of us poor lawyers. But who are all these people?
Sharp looked puzzled. The first deed recites the marriage contract
between you and mister van Hupfeldt. He began to explain.
(03:22):
A violet said, and her words had the cold clink
of ice in a glass. Who is mister van Hupfeldt?
Why this from missus mordaunt? Mother, I better not interfere here.
You don't seem to understand, mister Sharp. You spoke of
a mister Henry van Hupfeldt. Who is he? The lawyer,
(03:48):
smirking at the hidden joke, pointed to the man standing
by the table. Of course, that is he. He said, Oh,
I know that is Johannstrass, the man who married and
it may be found killed. My sister. You must look
further into your papers, mister Sharp. There is some terrible mistake.
(04:12):
Perhaps if you went on your knees and prayed to
God for guidance in your work, it might be better.
They seated her mother again, and the dog in her
lap sprang off in alarm. The solicitor stood dumbfounded, still
thinking that some bizarre piece of humor was toward. It
(04:36):
was Van Hupfeldt who saved Missus Nordalf from imminent hysteria.
Violet has been talking to that fellow Harcourt, of whom
I told you, He said coolly. She is unfortunately only
too ready to believe him, and a further wall of
distrust is built between us at a most inopportune moments.
(04:59):
I am sorry, Mordaunt. It is not my fault, and
I would have saved you from this, Violet. I knew
he had left London, so I wired precautions. But he
is a scamp of unparalleled audacity and resource. Surely you
have given him no money. Violet, scarce, trusting her ears,
(05:22):
listened to the calm, smooth sentences with rising indignation, but
she mastered herself sufficiently to say, he has told me
everything about the certificates, the diary, and all the time
of lies has passed. Did you then kill my sister?
(05:43):
Why condense the tale? Of course, he assured you that Dibbon,
the agent who let the flat to your sister's husband,
will readily identify me as Strauss. That Sarah gissing her
servant will hail me as her former master. Yes, he
did say that, why did he not bring them here?
(06:05):
He will bring them tomorrow. Van Hupfelt smiled wearily. It
seemed as though he could not help himself. Forgive me, Violet,
he said, it is I who will bring them, not Harcourt.
He dare not his bubble bursts the moment you asked
(06:26):
for proof, Indeed, I am beginning to think the man
is mad. He must have conceived an insane affection for you,
and you are committing a great wrong in giving him
these clandestine meetings. This was too much. Violet advanced toward
him with eyes aflame. There were days in the history
(06:50):
of the world when men were struck dead from heaven.
She cried, that is yet possible, he asked, answered with
a strange humility. Do you deny all all? She almost screamed.
Not only do I deny, but I affirm and I
(07:13):
have my proofs. I have known for some time, not
very long. It is true that a man named Johann
Strauss did assume my name when he married your sister.
There is nothing remarkable in that. I am a rich
man known to many the adoption of a pseudonym is
(07:35):
a common device of actors. There was no real resemblance
between this person Strauss and myself. Of that fact, those
who were well acquainted with him, Dibbon and Sarah Gissing
will assure you tomorrow in this house, I have your
sister's marriage certificate and the birth registration of her child.
(07:58):
I know where the child is. I will bring the
foster mother to tell you that I was not the
man who entrusted the infant to her care. I have
your sister's diary, which this Harcourt did really secure. I
got it from him by a trick, I admit, but
only to save you from becoming his dupe. Now I
(08:22):
have placed all my cards on the table by the
side of your marriage settlement. Can David Harcourt do as much?
The girl's lips quivered a little. What was she to believe? In?
Whom was she to trust? She wanted to cry, but
she dug her nails into her white hands for the
(08:45):
encircling clasp of David's arms still tangled on her shoulders.
Why do you tell me all this only when I
force it from you, she asked. You answer your own question,
You force it from me exactly. I would prefer that
(09:06):
my promised wife should have trust in me. I wished
to spare you certain sordid revelations. But because some American
adventurer happens upon a family tragedy and uses it for
his own purposes, whether base or not, I do not
stop to inquire. You treat me as the one quite
(09:28):
unworthy of belief. Violet, you hurt me more than you know.
The man's voice broke, tears stood in his eyes. The
girl was nearly distraught under the stress of the struggle
going on within her. Henry van hopfelt, she said, solemnly,
(09:49):
looking him straight in the face. May the Lord judge
between me and you if I have wronged you? No,
sweet girl, you cannot wrong me. For my My conscience
is clear. But it is a hard thing that you
should incline rather to this blackmailer than to me. Blackmailer,
(10:10):
The ugly word came from her lips in sheer protest.
The lash of a whip could not have stung as cruelly. Yes,
most certainly, did he not demand a hundred pounds from you?
Let me go to him and offer five hundred, and
you will never see or hear of him again. Oh,
(10:32):
if that is so, there is no faith or honesty
anywhere in the world. Is he your world? Then demanded
Van Hopfeldt bitterly, and even missus Mordaunt broke in with
her moan, Oh, fy let us end in this distressing scene,
went on Van Hopfeldt with a repressed indignation that was
(10:56):
exceedingly convincing. Mister Sharpe, you see, of course, that Miss
Mordau cannot be expected to complete these arrangements to day.
Please be here tomorrow morning at the same time before
that hour, I shall be back from London with all
the witnesses and documents which shall prove to Miss Mordaut's
(11:19):
complete satisfaction that she has been grossly misled by a
cleverly concocted story. Indeed, I would be glad if subsequently
you interviewed this David Harcourt. It seems to me almost
credible now that he himself believed the extraordinary tale he's
made up. Whatever you please shall be done, sir, said
(11:43):
the lawyer. And may I add, for the benefits of
these two ladies that earn My own knowledge of your
position and career completely excludes such a preposterous. Thank you,
mister sharp broke In van Hupfeldt. You mean that kindly,
(12:04):
I know, but this is a matter between miss Mordaunt
and myself. At the moment, the solicitor gathered up his
papers and withdrew. For a little while, there was no
sound in the room except the mother's sobbing and the
daughter's labored breathing. For unhappy Violet was so torn with
(12:25):
doubt that her breast appeared to be unable to harbor
its agitation. A few minutes ago, she deemed herself free
from a compact hateful to her soul. Yet here was
Van hupfelt more convincing, more compelling than ever to her
terrified eyes. The man assumed the shape and properties of
(12:47):
a python, a monstrous snake from which there was no escape,
And then the sibilant hiss of his voice reached her
dulled ears. Missus Mordaunt, may I appeal to your authority?
Surely this harcourt will not be admitted here in my absence.
(13:10):
I do not ask much, only a respite of twenty
four hours. Then I return with all the proofs. Why
then have they been withheld so long? Came Violet's agonized protest,
I do declare VI broke in her mother that you
(13:31):
would try the patience of job. Have you lost all
your fine sense of honor and fairness? What more can
mister van Hupfeldt do to please you? And where do
you meet this young man who so unwarrantably thrusts himself
into our affairs? I should like to know. Poor Violet
(13:52):
knew that the British matron instinct was fighting against her now,
and there never was a girl more bound up in
her family ties than this one. Forgive me, mother, she
said wearily. The long struggle is at an end. Now.
Let mister van Hupfelt keep his promise, and I shall
(14:14):
not cause further difficulty. Well, said cried van Holpfeldt eagerly.
That is a brave resolution. I accept it implicitly, missus mordaunt.
I trust you will not be angry with my Violet
while I am away. I know how she has suffered.
(14:35):
It is for me to make amends for all that,
and I promise her happiness a full cup of it.
And meanwhile, a Violet, I agree. I neither see, nor
speak to, nor send any message to David Harcourt as
far as lies in my power until you return tomorrow.
(14:57):
I kiss my hand to you, both, cried Van Hupfeldt
with the gallant air which came naturally to him, and
he went out. His preparations were soon made. A carriage
took him to the station, But before he quitted the manner,
he sent for the gamekeeper. You were remiss in your duty,
(15:18):
he said sternly to the man. The person of whom
I warned you has been in the park and has
spoken to Miss Violet. Now listen carefully to what I say.
Obtain any help you require, and guard this house and
its grounds, so that not a bird can fly over it,
nor a rabbit scamper among the bushes without your knowledge.
(15:43):
Do this until I return tomorrow, and I give you
fifty pounds. But fail in the least particular and you
will be dismissed. Instantly he was gone with a rush
of whipped horses. Velveteene's took thought twice in one day.
(16:05):
He growled, the licking or the sack and fifty quid
or the sack? Oh, which is it to be? It
might be one or all or none of such first's
seconds and thirds is the acrostic of life. Made up,
(16:26):
but the promise of money stirred the man's dull wits.
No watch dog could have been more faithful to his trust,
and by lavish offers of silver and beer deferred luxuries.
Of course, he secured the aid of certain local poachers,
his lasting enemies, but his friends for the night. In
(16:49):
a word, if David had crept again into the park,
he would probably have been beaten to a jelly. But
David attempted nothing of the sort. He was loyal to
his pact with Violet, never dreaming of the ordeal to
which the girl had been submitted. Nevertheless, having no sort
(17:10):
of occupation, he kept his eyes and ears open. He
saw sharp drive through the village and was told that
the lawyer was head of a trusted firm in the
county town. He saw Van Hupfeldt pass towards the station,
and the ostler learned from a railway porter that the
(17:30):
gentleman from the Manor had gone to London. This gave
David cause to think, seeing that there was no news
from Violet. But he waited with much hope and some
spasms of miserableness, through the long dull evening, heard nothing
from her. Went to bed tossed restlessly until the sun rose,
(17:55):
met the village postman at the door of the inn,
and still received no tidings. He breakfasted, hung about, watched
the road, sauntered as far as the lodge, nodded affably
to velveteens behind the bars, and caught no glimpse of violet.
Then he determined to break the spell of silence. He
(18:19):
returned to the inn and wrote a letter, which he
entrusted to his Majesty's postmaster General for express delivery. Sure enough,
the postmistress's younger sister refused to be turned back by
the cerberus at the gate, nor would she tell her business.
The man knew her, suspected her errand, but dared not interfere,
(18:42):
having a wholesale regard for the law. So all he
could do was to note for coming and going, and
report to his briber, for he was Missus Mordaunt's servant.
And this is what David wrote, My dear one, Can
it be that some newly conceived lie has kept you
(19:04):
from sending for me? I only ask your full inquiry.
I stand or fall by that, but spare me this silence,
for I am eating my heart out yours, David. The
messenger tripped back. No answer, sir, she said, and the
word smote David such a blow that his cheek blanched,
(19:26):
While the girl wondered to whom did you hand my
note to miss Violet? Sir? Are you sure? Oh? Yes, sir,
gave it to her myself and she read it. Yes, sir,
did she say anything? Just that? Sir? No answer. Then David,
in a mighty wrath and fume, dashed off another note.
(19:50):
Very well be it? So I returned to London. God
help you. If you marry that man, you will sink
to the pit, and the angels alone will be able
to lift you. Therefrom that there be no error this time.
I leave for London at one fifteen p m. If
you want me, you must either detain me now or
(20:10):
come to me in London. Back went the postmistress's sister,
marveling at the strangeness of these one sided missives between
the young woman of the manner and a handsome young
man at the feathers. Being seventeen, she took David's side
as against Violet, so she added on her own account.
When she saw the white faced aristocrat in the house,
(20:34):
the explanatory statement that the young gentleman seemed to be
very much upset at receiving no reply. Poor Violet, in
whom loyalty was hereditary, could not break her word, But
she did say, I have no message to day, but
I know mister Harcourt's address. That was the only crumb
(20:58):
of comfort vouchsafed to away he went that quarter past one.
Nor did the volcano in him show any sign of
subsidence when he reached the gloom and shadows of Number
seven Eddystone Mansions. For a little drop of acutest poison
had been poured into his ear by the gossip of
(21:19):
the village. In the bar over night he heard yokels
talking of the need of money at the big house,
how Van Heppfeldt's wealth would make the flowers grow again
in Rigsworth. He smiled at the conceit. Then now he
knew that deadly nightshade was sown in the garden of
(21:40):
his hopes, For he imagined that money had proved more
potent than love. It was a remarkable thing that, of
all the pictures in the flat he had left untouched
the portrait and Shock which hung over the dining room fireplace.
It savored too much of sacri to disturb that ethereal face.
(22:04):
But David was in far too savage a mood to
check that sentiment. During those dark hours, he surveyed the
portrait almost vindictively, though had he been less bitter, he
might have seen a reassuring smile in the parted lips.
So it came to pass that, after eating some dry bread,
(22:24):
which was the only food he found in the larder,
he lit a pipe, looked at the picture again, and
yielded to the impulse to examine it. Strong as were
his nerves, he had to force himself to apply a
knife to its brown papered back, and then, with a queer,
vindictive howl of triumph, he drew forth a curiously insipid
(22:48):
portrait of van Hupfeldt, inscribed to when with a date,
and folded behind it a terrible little notely dated Paris Tuesday,
which read, my poor girl. At last, then you force
(23:09):
the miserable truth from me. Missus Strauss is my wife.
She is twice my age. She forced me to marry
her ten years ago for her money. She is indeed dying,
And then I can fly to you for the sake
of our boy, forgive me. There was something sadly animal
(23:32):
in David's triumph. He felt like a dog which has
seized the rat after which it has been straining. And
in a minute or two he had the grace to
be ashamed of himself. Then he thought of violence, and
he broke down, crying like a child. Those tears were
good for him, They brought him back to sanity and
(23:54):
garnished the dark places of his heart. But what to do,
that was more than ever the problem. He bolted and
barred his door that night, and the photograph and letter
lay beside his revolver under his pillow. Not forty van
Uppfeldts nor a legion of ghosts should reave him of
(24:15):
those telling pieces of evidence. End of Chapter eighteen.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.