June 9, 2025 • 26 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.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter nineteen of The Late Tenant by Gordon Holmes. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Violet de Sides Violet,
waked from broken rest by the cooing of doves, had
rue in her soul. She met her mother at breakfast,
(00:21):
and the good woman, thinking her daughter not altogether right
in her senses, was disposed to be somewhat snappish. So
the girl was driven back on her sad imaginings, nor
were they dissipated by David's two little notes. When she
sent the messenger away the second time, she was in
(00:42):
a strange state of calm. Despair had numbed her. She
thought persistently of her sister, and wondered if the only
true rest was to be found in that dark nook
of the grave. She saw a carriage depart for the
railway stick to bring Van Hupfeldt. In half an hour,
(01:03):
its wheels grated on the gravel of the drive, and
a servant came to her room to summon her to
the fateful conclavet. She was on her knees in dry
eyed prayer, and the frightened maid, who loved Miss Violet,
had a little catch in her voice as she said,
(01:24):
you are wanted in the drawing room, miss and please, Miss,
I do hope you won't take on. So everybody says
you ought to be happy, but I I know you ain't.
Miss Violet rose and kissed the girl. It was good
to have such honest sympathy. In the big, cheerful salon beneath,
(01:47):
she found her mother stiff and self conscious, wondering what
people would think if Violet persisted in her folly. Van
Hupfeldt collected and deferential, wearing a a hull of violets
of all the flowers in creation, and seated gingerly on
the edge of a chair. A quiet dressed young woman
(02:09):
with domestic servant writ large upon her. But Dibbon, for
whom Violet's eyes searched dreamily, was not there. Van Hupfeldt,
who seemed to have an uncanny trick of reading her
thoughts when they were hostile, explained instantly, not all my
persuasions could bring mister Dibbon from his office to day.
(02:33):
He had some business engagement, which was imperative, he said,
But I have done the next best thing. Here is
a letter from him. He will substantiated statements in person
some later day, he held out a letter. The girl
took it mechanically. The envelope bore her name Typed. She
(02:54):
broke the seal and began to read, but her mother
resolved to have no no nonsense, this time interrupted with
an unusual sharpness. Allowed Please, so Violet read, dear Miss Mordaunt.
For some reason not explained to me, a gentleman named
(03:17):
Van Hupfeldt has asked me to assure you that he
is not Johann Straps, who rented the flat number seven
Eddystone Mansions some two years since. Of course I do
that readily. I much regret that I cannot travel to
Rigsworth with mister van Hopfeldt today, but I do not
(03:39):
suppose that the odd request he makes is really so
urgent as he would have me believe. Please convey my
respectful regards to missus Mordaunt, yours faithfully, John Dibbon. Accepting
the signature, the letter was typewritten, Violet knew the old
(03:59):
agents scrawling handwriting very well. He had never sent her
a typewritten letter. Before she laid the document on the
table which had borne the parchments of yesterday. Well, is
that satisfactory, said Van Hupfeldt. Quite conclusive, murmured missus mordaunt.
(04:22):
Who is this, asked Violet, turning toward the nervous young
person on the edge of a chair. That is Sarah gissing,
poor Gwen's maid. It was not Sarah gissing, but Jenny,
loaned by miss Ermine l Strange for the day at
a stiff figure paid to both. Jenny, schooled for her
(04:45):
part and glib enough at it, though her cockney pertness
was momentarily awed by the old world grandeur of Dale
Manor and its real ladies. So Van Hupfeldt was playing
with loaded dice. He had discarded the dangerous notion of
trying to buy dibbon for the simpler expedient of a
(05:06):
forged letter. The marriage ceremony was now the great coup
let that be an irrevocable fact, and he believed he
would be able to manage everything. Ah, said Violet, with
a pathos that might have touched even a callous heart.
You are saragussing. You knew my dear sister, You saw
(05:28):
her in her last hours, you heard her last words. Yes,
miss sniffled Jenny. Man This gentleman ain't mister strauss, No,
we do resemble em a bit. Now. This assurance came
too quick on the heels of a natural question. It
had not been asked. Violet was ready to bear her
(05:50):
heart to this common looking girl for the sake of
the knowledge that she was Gwendolen's only confidante. But the
exceeding promptitude of Jenny His testimony forced back the rush
of sentiments. Violet even recoiled a little. Could it be
possible that her sweet and gracious sister, the laughing sprite
(06:13):
of bygone days, had been driven to make something of
a friend of this coarse, small faced, mean eyed wench
How pitiful, how sordid was each fresh chapter of Gwen's
hidden life. Van hadfelt saw that a check had occurred,
though his seething brain, intent only on securing an unalterable verdict,
(06:38):
was unable to appreciate the delicate poise of violence emotions.
Question her, he said, gently, she will tell you all
about her mistress, to whom she was greatly attached, Were
you not, Sarah, Oh, yes, sir, She were such a
lovely lady, so nice and kind in her way, that
(07:00):
nobody could help love on her. That was better. Violet
thought again, I hardly know what to ask you, she said, wistfully.
Did she ever speak of us, of my mother and me?
She would talk for hours about you, Miss, many a
time I could hardly get on with my work. She
(07:22):
was so anxious to have some one to gossip with.
Bless your art, Miss, I know your name as well
as my own. Strange, most unutterably strange, thought Violet. But
she said, with a sad smile, you were very much favored, Sarah.
I would have given all I have in the world
(07:43):
to have changed places with you. Tell me, was this man,
this mister Strauss kind to her? He must have been,
miss he must have been. But you saw and heard.
Jenny kept her head low. She rushed a little. People
often do put on a different way before servant smiths
(08:05):
to what they have in private. Not that I have
any reason to think anyways bad of Mistress Russ. He
was a very generous word of gentlemen, always free with
his money. What it meant was that miss or Miss
Gwendolen used to speak of him as a loving husband.
Jenny caught her breath a trifle. She did not dare
(08:27):
look at Van Hupfeldt as he had specifically warned her
against doing so. Like most of her class, she was
prepared now to cover any mistake by excessive volubility. Did
you address her as miss Gwendolen? Then, yes, miss, that
is the way on the stage, you know, But this
(08:48):
was not on the stage, quite, brightness. Only ladies in
the profession mostly uses their stage names in private. My
sister never appears on any stage to my knowledge. Jenny
became a little defiant, of course, Miss, she answered tartly.
(09:10):
I didn't know much about my missus Cummins and Goins,
but she used to go regular to rehearsal. The call
was for eleven aunt two. Most days, Violet found herself
in a new world. What could have come to Gwendolen
that she should have quitted her home and gone away
among these strange people? And what had she said that
(09:32):
this servant girl should suddenly show the shrew in her?
She glanced towards her mother, who indeed was as greatly
perturbed as herself. The old lady could scarce comprehend that
the talk was of her darling Gwendolen. Then Van Hupfeldt,
thinking to lead Violet's ideas into a fresh channel, broke in.
(09:55):
I was sure that these things would distress you, he said,
in the low voice sympathy. Perhaps you would prefer to
send Sarah to the housekeeper's room while you look at
the documents I have brought. Violet, in, whose brain a
hundred wild questions as to her sister's life were jostling,
(10:15):
suddenly faced Jenny again. What was my sister's baby called,
she asked, Henri, miss after its father. But why Henry,
since the father's name was Johann. That is a puzzle. Miss.
I'm only telling you what I know, and what became
(10:35):
of the child? Why was it spirited away from its mother?
Or was it not taken away until after her death?
Jenny had been told to be as close as an
oyster on this matter. I don't know why the baby
was sent out to nurse, Miss, she said, I can
only tell you it was never in the flat. Violet
(10:58):
passed a hand across her eyes, as though to clear
a bewildered brain. This domestic lived in a small flat
with her sister, who gossiped for hours with her. Yet
the girl knew little about a child, which Gwen must
have idolized. Then you never saw the baby, she asked, now,
(11:22):
miss that is once, I think for Jenny did now
venture to look at Van Hupfeldt, and his slight nod
came at the instant of her denial. He thought the
infant a safe topic in regard to its appearance and
the mother's love of it. Missus Mordaunt, who had been
(11:43):
listening intently enough, caught Jenny's hesitation. It is odd, she said,
that you should have forgotten or be uncertain of such
a definite fact as seeing my daughter's child. A maid
entered with a telegram, which she handed to Violet in
(12:03):
a quiet country mansion. The advent of a telegram is
a rare event. People in rural England regard this curt
manner of communication as reserved only for important items. Missus
Mordaunt was a little alarmed. Her mind quickly reviewed all
her relative's ailments. What is it VI, she asked anxiously,
(12:28):
while Van Uppfelt wondered if any unoccupied fiend had tempted
David Harcourt to interfere. At this crucial moment, Violet opened
the buff envelope and read the message slowly. It was
a perfectly marvelous thing that she retained her self control
for the telegram or as from Dibbon at Dundee, I've
(12:51):
just concluded sale after three days private negotiation. Here your
moiety five hundred pounds. Letter follows. It referred to a
long deferred bequest from a cousin and was a simple
matter enough. But Dibbon realizing an estate in the north
of Scotland and Dibbon writing typewritten testimonials of Van Hupfeldt
(13:15):
in London on one and the same day was a
mahatma performance, a case of psychic projection which did not
enter into the ordinary scheme of things. Nevertheless, Violet, save
for one flash of intensest surprise in those deep eyes
of hers, maintained her self control. She had been so
(13:37):
tried already that her mind could withstand any shock. It
is nothing, mother, merely a reference to the af Lachen affair,
she said, crushing the telegram into a little ball in
her hand. Ah, said missus Mordaunt, greatly relieved. I dreamed
about Jane last night. Well now, said Van Hupfeldt, after
(14:02):
a bound or two of his heart. What do you say,
mister Sharp will be here soon. You have the certificates
and the diary, said Violet, the certificates, Yes, not the diary.
On calm thought, I have decided irrevocably that the diary
shall not be placed in your hands until the lapse
(14:25):
of our six months agreement. I have yielded every other
point there I am ridged. Do you assign any reason, yes,
my right as your affianced husband, to preserve you from
the grief and morbidness of reading a record of suffering.
(14:45):
I would not have you a weeping bride. When we
return from our wedding tour, I shall hand you the
diary no sooner the certificates, then, said Violet composedly. Van
Hupfeldt took two papers from a pocket book. One recorded
the marriage of Henry van Hopfeldt to Gwendolen Mordaunt at
(15:07):
the office of the Brighton Registrar. The other was the
certificate of the birth of the child in the same
town a year later. It was a fine piece of
daring for the man to produce these documents. His own name,
his age, thirty eight, his occupation. Gentlemen were set forth
on the long Narrow Strip, and the address was given
(15:30):
as number seven Eddystone Mansion's, London w Even missus Mordaunt
was startled when she glanced over her daughter's shoulder at
the papers. Suddenly Violet thought she saw a ray of light.
Who was this man a brother, some near relative of yours?
She asked, no, no relation. Van Hupfeldt was taken aback
(15:55):
and the negative flew out before he realized that this
might have been a good card to play. But no,
Violet would never have married him. Then what a mystery
to think that he should adopt your name, be of
your apparent age, and yet that you should come here
to Rigsworth and make our acquaintance. No mystery at all.
(16:20):
You drag everything from me like a skilled lawyer. Strauss
did more than borrow my name, He forged it. There
was a police inquiry. I was called into it. My
curiosity was aroused. I learned something of your sister's story,
and I took steps to meet you, introduced by Lord Vanstone,
(16:42):
murmured Missus Mordaunt. Yes someone. I quickly forget all else
when I was granted the privilege of your friendship. And
he took Violet's hand and kissed it with a delicate
grace that was courtly in him. Sharp was announced, Missus Mordaunt,
sent Jenny away in a maid's escort, and Violet knew
(17:06):
that her hour of final yielding was near. She still
held the certificates. Am I to keep these? She asked,
while her mouth quivered slightly. She was thinking, thinking all
the time of David and Dibbin, and of the queer
collapse of Gwendolen, which made that little Cockney woman her companion.
(17:31):
But what plea could she urge now? She could only
ask for a few days respite, just to clear away
some lingering doubts. And then, but for mother's sake, no
protests now, nor tears nor questions. Sharp's ferret eyes took
in the altered situation yesterday's clouds had passed. A glance
(17:56):
from Van Hupfeldt brought him to business. There was a
marriage settlement of five thousand pounds per annum, to be
increased to twice the amount in the event of widowhood,
and Sharp explained to the legal proviso that Violet was
to be free to marry again if so minded, without
(18:17):
forfeiting any portion of this magnificent yearly revenue. Most generous
Missus Mordaunt could not help saying, and even the girl
herself miserable and drooping as a caged thrush knew that
Van Hupfeldt was showing himself a princely suitor, and now
(18:37):
follows a somewhat unusual document, said Sharp in his brisk
legal way, mister van Hupfeldt has instructed me to prepare
a will leaving all his real and personal estate to
Miss Violet Mordaunt, he being confident that she will faithfully
carry out certain instructions of his own. Of course, this
(19:00):
instrument will have a very brief life. Marriage, I may explain,
Miss Mordaunt invalidates all wills previously executed by either of
the parties, and suit intended only to cover the interregnum,
so to speak, between today's bachelordom and the marriage ceremony
(19:20):
of this day week, said van Hupfeldt. Eagerly be it,
so said Violet, for she had a plan in her
mind now, and whatever happened, a week's grace was sufficient.
Missus Mordaunt and I are appointed trustees pro temp for
the purposes of the marriage settlement. Went on Sharp, Mister
(19:44):
van Hupfeldt will of course execute a fresh will after marriage.
All we need now are two witnesses for various signatures.
My clerk, who is waiting in the hall, will serve
as one. The girl guessing, who was here just now
might be called in, said Missus Mordaunt. No, no, cried
(20:06):
van Hupfeldt. She is a stranger. After to day she
vanishes from our lives. Please summon one of your own servants,
the housekeeper, or a footman. So Violet and van Hupfeldt
and Missus Mordaal and the witnesses signed their names on
various parchments at places where the lawyer had marked little
(20:28):
crosses in pencil. Violet, as in a dream, saw the
name Henry van Hupfeldt above that of Violet Mordaunt, just
as it appeared over Gwendolen Mordaal in the marriage certificate.
In her eyes, the tiny crosses made the great squares
(20:49):
of vellum look like the chart of a cemetery. Yet
there was something singing sweetly in her ears. You still
have a week of liberty. Use your time, I'm well.
Not all the law in the land can force you
to the altar unless you wish it. And this lullaby
was soothing. Soon the solicitor took off himself and his duplicates,
(21:13):
for he handed certain originals to Violet, advising her to
entrust them to the care of a bank or her
mother's legal advisers. Van Upfelt, with a creditable tact, set
himself to entertain the two ladies, and when Violet wished
to interview Sarah Gissing again, he explained that the girl
(21:34):
had been sent back to London by his orders. No
more tears, he said, earnestly, no more doubtings and wonderings.
When we return from a tour in the States, you
shall meet her again and satisfy all your cravings. Evidently
his design was to remain at Dale Manor until they
(21:56):
were quietly married, and meanwhile surrounded the place with every
possible protection. It came therefore as a dreadful shock to
him when Violet disappeared for a whole hour after breakfast
next morning, and then missus Mordaunt, a red eyed and incoherent,
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rushed to find him with a note which had just
reached her from the station. It read, dear mother, I
suppose I have freedom of action for two days out
of my seven. I wish to make certain inquiries, So
I am going away until tomorrow night or possibly the
next morning. I think mister van Hupfeldt will say this
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is fair and injustice to him. I wish to state
that I shall not see mister David Harcourt by design.
Should I see him by chance, I shall refuse to
speak to him. Your loving daughter, Violet, it is ended
I have done with her. She has plagued me far else,
screamed the man when he understood that Violet had really
(23:05):
quitted Rigsworth. His paroxysms of rage were so fierce that
Missus Mordaunt was terrified that he would die on the spot.
But his passion ended in an equally vehement declaration of
sorrow and affection. He would follow her and bring her back.
(23:25):
Missus Mordaunt must come with him instantly. The girl must
be saved from herself. Surely they would find her, even
in London, whither he was certain she had gone, for
she would only go to her accustomed haunts. He infected
the grief stricken mother with some of his own frenzy.
(23:47):
She promised to be at the station in time for
the next train. He tore off to the telegraph office,
where he wrote messages in a white fever of action. First,
he made his factotem neal meet the train from Rigsworth
in which Violet traveled, and ascertain her movements if possible.
(24:09):
The second was to Dibbon, A client has recommended you
to me leave by earliest train for Portsmouth and call
at offices of a named firm of solicitors for instructions.
I forward herewith fifty pounds for preliminary expenses, Henry van Hupfeldt.
(24:32):
The fifty pounds which he thus telegraphed to Dibbon were
notes which he had brought for the gamekeeper, so this
payment was deferred at least. Then he sent word to
the Portsmouth firm that Dibbon was to be dispatched on
a secret estate hunting quest in Devonshire at any terms
he chose to demand. His next telegram was to missus
(24:56):
Carter and Pangley take baby at once by train to
station Hotel New Street, Birmingham. Leave word with neighbors and
at station to say where you have gone. I will
write you at Birmingham and send money to night. Finally,
to David, he wired, I now know everything. Missus Carter
(25:20):
is about to take my sister's child away from Pangley.
Please go there at once find out where she has gone,
and follow her. Wire me tomorrow or next day what
you've discovered. Forgive yesterday silence. It was unavoidable, Violet. That
was all he could devise in the present chaos of
(25:42):
his mind. But it would serve, he thought, to give
a few hours breathing space. He was hard pressed, but
far from beaten yet, and now that Violet and her
mother were away from Dale Manor, he would take care
that they did not returned to the house until Violet
was his wife. Perhaps, even in this desperate hour, things
(26:07):
had happened for the best. End of Chapter nineteen
Chapter nineteen of The Late Tenant by Gordon Holmes. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Violet de Sides Violet,
waked from broken rest by the cooing of doves, had
rue in her soul. She met her mother at breakfast,
(00:21):
and the good woman, thinking her daughter not altogether right
in her senses, was disposed to be somewhat snappish. So
the girl was driven back on her sad imaginings, nor
were they dissipated by David's two little notes. When she
sent the messenger away the second time, she was in
(00:42):
a strange state of calm. Despair had numbed her. She
thought persistently of her sister, and wondered if the only
true rest was to be found in that dark nook
of the grave. She saw a carriage depart for the
railway stick to bring Van Hupfeldt. In half an hour,
(01:03):
its wheels grated on the gravel of the drive, and
a servant came to her room to summon her to
the fateful conclavet. She was on her knees in dry
eyed prayer, and the frightened maid, who loved Miss Violet,
had a little catch in her voice as she said,
(01:24):
you are wanted in the drawing room, miss and please, Miss,
I do hope you won't take on. So everybody says
you ought to be happy, but I I know you ain't.
Miss Violet rose and kissed the girl. It was good
to have such honest sympathy. In the big, cheerful salon beneath,
(01:47):
she found her mother stiff and self conscious, wondering what
people would think if Violet persisted in her folly. Van
Hupfeldt collected and deferential, wearing a a hull of violets
of all the flowers in creation, and seated gingerly on
the edge of a chair. A quiet dressed young woman
(02:09):
with domestic servant writ large upon her. But Dibbon, for
whom Violet's eyes searched dreamily, was not there. Van Hupfeldt,
who seemed to have an uncanny trick of reading her
thoughts when they were hostile, explained instantly, not all my
persuasions could bring mister Dibbon from his office to day.
(02:33):
He had some business engagement, which was imperative, he said,
But I have done the next best thing. Here is
a letter from him. He will substantiated statements in person
some later day, he held out a letter. The girl
took it mechanically. The envelope bore her name Typed. She
(02:54):
broke the seal and began to read, but her mother
resolved to have no no nonsense, this time interrupted with
an unusual sharpness. Allowed Please, so Violet read, dear Miss Mordaunt.
For some reason not explained to me, a gentleman named
(03:17):
Van Hupfeldt has asked me to assure you that he
is not Johann Straps, who rented the flat number seven
Eddystone Mansions some two years since. Of course I do
that readily. I much regret that I cannot travel to
Rigsworth with mister van Hopfeldt today, but I do not
(03:39):
suppose that the odd request he makes is really so
urgent as he would have me believe. Please convey my
respectful regards to missus Mordaunt, yours faithfully, John Dibbon. Accepting
the signature, the letter was typewritten, Violet knew the old
(03:59):
agents scrawling handwriting very well. He had never sent her
a typewritten letter. Before she laid the document on the
table which had borne the parchments of yesterday. Well, is
that satisfactory, said Van Hupfeldt. Quite conclusive, murmured missus mordaunt.
(04:22):
Who is this, asked Violet, turning toward the nervous young
person on the edge of a chair. That is Sarah gissing,
poor Gwen's maid. It was not Sarah gissing, but Jenny,
loaned by miss Ermine l Strange for the day at
a stiff figure paid to both. Jenny, schooled for her
(04:45):
part and glib enough at it, though her cockney pertness
was momentarily awed by the old world grandeur of Dale
Manor and its real ladies. So Van Hupfeldt was playing
with loaded dice. He had discarded the dangerous notion of
trying to buy dibbon for the simpler expedient of a
(05:06):
forged letter. The marriage ceremony was now the great coup
let that be an irrevocable fact, and he believed he
would be able to manage everything. Ah, said Violet, with
a pathos that might have touched even a callous heart.
You are saragussing. You knew my dear sister, You saw
(05:28):
her in her last hours, you heard her last words. Yes,
miss sniffled Jenny. Man This gentleman ain't mister strauss, No,
we do resemble em a bit. Now. This assurance came
too quick on the heels of a natural question. It
had not been asked. Violet was ready to bear her
(05:50):
heart to this common looking girl for the sake of
the knowledge that she was Gwendolen's only confidante. But the
exceeding promptitude of Jenny His testimony forced back the rush
of sentiments. Violet even recoiled a little. Could it be
possible that her sweet and gracious sister, the laughing sprite
(06:13):
of bygone days, had been driven to make something of
a friend of this coarse, small faced, mean eyed wench
How pitiful, how sordid was each fresh chapter of Gwen's
hidden life. Van hadfelt saw that a check had occurred,
though his seething brain, intent only on securing an unalterable verdict,
(06:38):
was unable to appreciate the delicate poise of violence emotions.
Question her, he said, gently, she will tell you all
about her mistress, to whom she was greatly attached, Were
you not, Sarah, Oh, yes, sir, She were such a
lovely lady, so nice and kind in her way, that
(07:00):
nobody could help love on her. That was better. Violet
thought again, I hardly know what to ask you, she said, wistfully.
Did she ever speak of us, of my mother and me?
She would talk for hours about you, Miss, many a
time I could hardly get on with my work. She
(07:22):
was so anxious to have some one to gossip with.
Bless your art, Miss, I know your name as well
as my own. Strange, most unutterably strange, thought Violet. But
she said, with a sad smile, you were very much favored, Sarah.
I would have given all I have in the world
(07:43):
to have changed places with you. Tell me, was this man,
this mister Strauss kind to her? He must have been,
miss he must have been. But you saw and heard.
Jenny kept her head low. She rushed a little. People
often do put on a different way before servant smiths
(08:05):
to what they have in private. Not that I have
any reason to think anyways bad of Mistress Russ. He
was a very generous word of gentlemen, always free with
his money. What it meant was that miss or Miss
Gwendolen used to speak of him as a loving husband.
Jenny caught her breath a trifle. She did not dare
(08:27):
look at Van Hupfeldt as he had specifically warned her
against doing so. Like most of her class, she was
prepared now to cover any mistake by excessive volubility. Did
you address her as miss Gwendolen? Then, yes, miss, that
is the way on the stage, you know, But this
(08:48):
was not on the stage, quite, brightness. Only ladies in
the profession mostly uses their stage names in private. My
sister never appears on any stage to my knowledge. Jenny
became a little defiant, of course, Miss, she answered tartly.
(09:10):
I didn't know much about my missus Cummins and Goins,
but she used to go regular to rehearsal. The call
was for eleven aunt two. Most days, Violet found herself
in a new world. What could have come to Gwendolen
that she should have quitted her home and gone away
among these strange people? And what had she said that
(09:32):
this servant girl should suddenly show the shrew in her?
She glanced towards her mother, who indeed was as greatly
perturbed as herself. The old lady could scarce comprehend that
the talk was of her darling Gwendolen. Then Van Hupfeldt,
thinking to lead Violet's ideas into a fresh channel, broke in.
(09:55):
I was sure that these things would distress you, he said,
in the low voice sympathy. Perhaps you would prefer to
send Sarah to the housekeeper's room while you look at
the documents I have brought. Violet, in, whose brain a
hundred wild questions as to her sister's life were jostling,
(10:15):
suddenly faced Jenny again. What was my sister's baby called,
she asked, Henri, miss after its father. But why Henry,
since the father's name was Johann. That is a puzzle. Miss.
I'm only telling you what I know, and what became
(10:35):
of the child? Why was it spirited away from its mother?
Or was it not taken away until after her death?
Jenny had been told to be as close as an
oyster on this matter. I don't know why the baby
was sent out to nurse, Miss, she said, I can
only tell you it was never in the flat. Violet
(10:58):
passed a hand across her eyes, as though to clear
a bewildered brain. This domestic lived in a small flat
with her sister, who gossiped for hours with her. Yet
the girl knew little about a child, which Gwen must
have idolized. Then you never saw the baby, she asked, now,
(11:22):
miss that is once, I think for Jenny did now
venture to look at Van Hupfeldt, and his slight nod
came at the instant of her denial. He thought the
infant a safe topic in regard to its appearance and
the mother's love of it. Missus Mordaunt, who had been
(11:43):
listening intently enough, caught Jenny's hesitation. It is odd, she said,
that you should have forgotten or be uncertain of such
a definite fact as seeing my daughter's child. A maid
entered with a telegram, which she handed to Violet in
(12:03):
a quiet country mansion. The advent of a telegram is
a rare event. People in rural England regard this curt
manner of communication as reserved only for important items. Missus
Mordaunt was a little alarmed. Her mind quickly reviewed all
her relative's ailments. What is it VI, she asked anxiously,
(12:28):
while Van Uppfelt wondered if any unoccupied fiend had tempted
David Harcourt to interfere. At this crucial moment, Violet opened
the buff envelope and read the message slowly. It was
a perfectly marvelous thing that she retained her self control
for the telegram or as from Dibbon at Dundee, I've
(12:51):
just concluded sale after three days private negotiation. Here your
moiety five hundred pounds. Letter follows. It referred to a
long deferred bequest from a cousin and was a simple
matter enough. But Dibbon realizing an estate in the north
of Scotland and Dibbon writing typewritten testimonials of Van Hupfeldt
(13:15):
in London on one and the same day was a
mahatma performance, a case of psychic projection which did not
enter into the ordinary scheme of things. Nevertheless, Violet, save
for one flash of intensest surprise in those deep eyes
of hers, maintained her self control. She had been so
(13:37):
tried already that her mind could withstand any shock. It
is nothing, mother, merely a reference to the af Lachen affair,
she said, crushing the telegram into a little ball in
her hand. Ah, said missus Mordaunt, greatly relieved. I dreamed
about Jane last night. Well now, said Van Hupfeldt, after
(14:02):
a bound or two of his heart. What do you say,
mister Sharp will be here soon. You have the certificates
and the diary, said Violet, the certificates, Yes, not the diary.
On calm thought, I have decided irrevocably that the diary
shall not be placed in your hands until the lapse
(14:25):
of our six months agreement. I have yielded every other
point there I am ridged. Do you assign any reason, yes,
my right as your affianced husband, to preserve you from
the grief and morbidness of reading a record of suffering.
(14:45):
I would not have you a weeping bride. When we
return from our wedding tour, I shall hand you the
diary no sooner the certificates, then, said Violet composedly. Van
Hupfeldt took two papers from a pocket book. One recorded
the marriage of Henry van Hopfeldt to Gwendolen Mordaunt at
(15:07):
the office of the Brighton Registrar. The other was the
certificate of the birth of the child in the same
town a year later. It was a fine piece of
daring for the man to produce these documents. His own name,
his age, thirty eight, his occupation. Gentlemen were set forth
on the long Narrow Strip, and the address was given
(15:30):
as number seven Eddystone Mansion's, London w Even missus Mordaunt
was startled when she glanced over her daughter's shoulder at
the papers. Suddenly Violet thought she saw a ray of light.
Who was this man a brother, some near relative of yours?
She asked, no, no relation. Van Hupfeldt was taken aback
(15:55):
and the negative flew out before he realized that this
might have been a good card to play. But no,
Violet would never have married him. Then what a mystery
to think that he should adopt your name, be of
your apparent age, and yet that you should come here
to Rigsworth and make our acquaintance. No mystery at all.
(16:20):
You drag everything from me like a skilled lawyer. Strauss
did more than borrow my name, He forged it. There
was a police inquiry. I was called into it. My
curiosity was aroused. I learned something of your sister's story,
and I took steps to meet you, introduced by Lord Vanstone,
(16:42):
murmured Missus Mordaunt. Yes someone. I quickly forget all else
when I was granted the privilege of your friendship. And
he took Violet's hand and kissed it with a delicate
grace that was courtly in him. Sharp was announced, Missus Mordaunt,
sent Jenny away in a maid's escort, and Violet knew
(17:06):
that her hour of final yielding was near. She still
held the certificates. Am I to keep these? She asked,
while her mouth quivered slightly. She was thinking, thinking all
the time of David and Dibbin, and of the queer
collapse of Gwendolen, which made that little Cockney woman her companion.
(17:31):
But what plea could she urge now? She could only
ask for a few days respite, just to clear away
some lingering doubts. And then, but for mother's sake, no
protests now, nor tears nor questions. Sharp's ferret eyes took
in the altered situation yesterday's clouds had passed. A glance
(17:56):
from Van Hupfeldt brought him to business. There was a
marriage settlement of five thousand pounds per annum, to be
increased to twice the amount in the event of widowhood,
and Sharp explained to the legal proviso that Violet was
to be free to marry again if so minded, without
(18:17):
forfeiting any portion of this magnificent yearly revenue. Most generous
Missus Mordaunt could not help saying, and even the girl
herself miserable and drooping as a caged thrush knew that
Van Hupfeldt was showing himself a princely suitor, and now
(18:37):
follows a somewhat unusual document, said Sharp in his brisk
legal way, mister van Hupfeldt has instructed me to prepare
a will leaving all his real and personal estate to
Miss Violet Mordaunt, he being confident that she will faithfully
carry out certain instructions of his own. Of course, this
(19:00):
instrument will have a very brief life. Marriage, I may explain,
Miss Mordaunt invalidates all wills previously executed by either of
the parties, and suit intended only to cover the interregnum,
so to speak, between today's bachelordom and the marriage ceremony
(19:20):
of this day week, said van Hupfeldt. Eagerly be it,
so said Violet, for she had a plan in her
mind now, and whatever happened, a week's grace was sufficient.
Missus Mordaunt and I are appointed trustees pro temp for
the purposes of the marriage settlement. Went on Sharp, Mister
(19:44):
van Hupfeldt will of course execute a fresh will after marriage.
All we need now are two witnesses for various signatures.
My clerk, who is waiting in the hall, will serve
as one. The girl guessing, who was here just now
might be called in, said Missus Mordaunt. No, no, cried
(20:06):
van Hupfeldt. She is a stranger. After to day she
vanishes from our lives. Please summon one of your own servants,
the housekeeper, or a footman. So Violet and van Hupfeldt
and Missus Mordaal and the witnesses signed their names on
various parchments at places where the lawyer had marked little
(20:28):
crosses in pencil. Violet, as in a dream, saw the
name Henry van Hupfeldt above that of Violet Mordaunt, just
as it appeared over Gwendolen Mordaal in the marriage certificate.
In her eyes, the tiny crosses made the great squares
(20:49):
of vellum look like the chart of a cemetery. Yet
there was something singing sweetly in her ears. You still
have a week of liberty. Use your time, I'm well.
Not all the law in the land can force you
to the altar unless you wish it. And this lullaby
was soothing. Soon the solicitor took off himself and his duplicates,
(21:13):
for he handed certain originals to Violet, advising her to
entrust them to the care of a bank or her
mother's legal advisers. Van Upfelt, with a creditable tact, set
himself to entertain the two ladies, and when Violet wished
to interview Sarah Gissing again, he explained that the girl
(21:34):
had been sent back to London by his orders. No
more tears, he said, earnestly, no more doubtings and wonderings.
When we return from a tour in the States, you
shall meet her again and satisfy all your cravings. Evidently
his design was to remain at Dale Manor until they
(21:56):
were quietly married, and meanwhile surrounded the place with every
possible protection. It came therefore as a dreadful shock to
him when Violet disappeared for a whole hour after breakfast
next morning, and then missus Mordaunt, a red eyed and incoherent,
(22:17):
rushed to find him with a note which had just
reached her from the station. It read, dear mother, I
suppose I have freedom of action for two days out
of my seven. I wish to make certain inquiries, So
I am going away until tomorrow night or possibly the
next morning. I think mister van Hupfeldt will say this
(22:41):
is fair and injustice to him. I wish to state
that I shall not see mister David Harcourt by design.
Should I see him by chance, I shall refuse to
speak to him. Your loving daughter, Violet, it is ended
I have done with her. She has plagued me far else,
screamed the man when he understood that Violet had really
(23:05):
quitted Rigsworth. His paroxysms of rage were so fierce that
Missus Mordaunt was terrified that he would die on the spot.
But his passion ended in an equally vehement declaration of
sorrow and affection. He would follow her and bring her back.
(23:25):
Missus Mordaunt must come with him instantly. The girl must
be saved from herself. Surely they would find her, even
in London, whither he was certain she had gone, for
she would only go to her accustomed haunts. He infected
the grief stricken mother with some of his own frenzy.
(23:47):
She promised to be at the station in time for
the next train. He tore off to the telegraph office,
where he wrote messages in a white fever of action. First,
he made his factotem neal meet the train from Rigsworth
in which Violet traveled, and ascertain her movements if possible.
(24:09):
The second was to Dibbon, A client has recommended you
to me leave by earliest train for Portsmouth and call
at offices of a named firm of solicitors for instructions.
I forward herewith fifty pounds for preliminary expenses, Henry van Hupfeldt.
(24:32):
The fifty pounds which he thus telegraphed to Dibbon were
notes which he had brought for the gamekeeper, so this
payment was deferred at least. Then he sent word to
the Portsmouth firm that Dibbon was to be dispatched on
a secret estate hunting quest in Devonshire at any terms
he chose to demand. His next telegram was to missus
(24:56):
Carter and Pangley take baby at once by train to
station Hotel New Street, Birmingham. Leave word with neighbors and
at station to say where you have gone. I will
write you at Birmingham and send money to night. Finally,
to David, he wired, I now know everything. Missus Carter
(25:20):
is about to take my sister's child away from Pangley.
Please go there at once find out where she has gone,
and follow her. Wire me tomorrow or next day what
you've discovered. Forgive yesterday silence. It was unavoidable, Violet. That
was all he could devise in the present chaos of
(25:42):
his mind. But it would serve, he thought, to give
a few hours breathing space. He was hard pressed, but
far from beaten yet, and now that Violet and her
mother were away from Dale Manor, he would take care
that they did not returned to the house until Violet
was his wife. Perhaps, even in this desperate hour, things
(26:07):
had happened for the best. End of Chapter nineteen
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