The Chase of the Ruby (Thriller Novel). Richard Marsh
to be delivered to Samuel Collyer, whom I hereby appoint my sole executor, by my nephew, Guy, within three months of the day of my death. Should he do so within the period mentioned, then I do hereby name him as my sole heir and residuary legatee. In default, however, of such delivery within the time stated, for any cause whatever, then my whole estate, without any deduction whatever, is to become the absolute property of my other nephew, Horace Burton."
'"Since the chances that Guy will obtain the ring from Miss Bewicke are not very large, that young woman preferring to keep tight hold of anything she has once laid her hands on, in making this will I am doing Horace even more than justice."
'"In the improbable case of the delivery of my ruby signet ring by Guy to Samuel Collyer, within the aforementioned three months of my decease, it is to be held by the said Samuel Collyer, and not to pass out of his possession until his death, when it is to be sold, and the proceeds devoted to form a Society for the Reformation of Actresses."
'"As witness my hand and signature this seventeenth day of June, Eighteen hundred and ninety-nine. George Burton."
'"Witnesses--"
'"John Claney, 13 Porchester Terrace, W."
'"Augustus Evans, 83 Belgrave Row, S.W."'
The reading was followed by silence, broken by a question from Mr Holland.
'And pray what is the plain English of it all?'
'The will is plain English. You are to obtain a certain ring from a certain lady and deliver it to me within a certain time. If you do so you are your uncle's heir; if you do not, Mr Horace is.'
'Within three months of his death. He died on the 23rd of February. This is the 19th of May. I have four days in which to get the ring.'
'Apparently that is the case.'
'Supposing this lady refuses to give me the ring when I ask for it, as, so far as I can perceive, she will be perfectly justified in doing.'
'Perfectly!'
The murmur came from Horace.
'How am I to get it from her within four days? Where is Miss Bewicke now?'
'In London. She is acting at the Modern Theatre. I am afraid I am unable to assist you with any advice as to how you are to procure the ring should she refuse to hand it over.'
Mr Holland stood up.
'Is that will a good one?'
'You mean in a legal sense. I should say so, perfectly. It is just the sort of will I should have expected your uncle to make. It is distinctly characteristic of the man.'
'My uncle was a most delightful person. Then, if I do not succeed in jockeying this lady out of her property inside four days I'm a pauper.'
'At least you will not inherit under your uncle's will.'
As Mr Holland stood with knitted brows his cousin gave him a friendly pat upon the back. Mr Holland whirled round to him in a manner which was distinctly not friendly.
'How dare you touch me, sir!'
'My dear Guy! May not a cousin give a cousinly salutation to a cousin? My congratulations, my dear boy. You're sure to be the heir. You always were so clever at diddling a woman.'
The blood showed even through Mr Holland's bronzed cheeks; his clenched fists twitched. The other, however, paid no heed to these signs and portents.
'I believe you managed to diddle Miss Bewicke once before, eh, Guy?' He turned upon his heels, with a little movement of his shoulders. 'Let's hope you'll succeed the second time as well as I've been given to understand you did the first. Good-bye. Good luck, dear boy. Collyer, I'll look in on you again.'
Mr Horace Burton strolled from the room. Presently Mr Holland followed him.
'I, also, Mr Collyer, will talk things over when I look in again. I don't feel equal to the task just now.' He said to himself as he was going down the stairs, 'Nice to have to rob your old sweetheart to keep yourself out of the gutter. He knew very well there had been passages between us; so he set me the dirtiest job to do which he could think of. The brute! I'd better have stayed in Africa than have come back to this. I wonder what Letty'll say.'
The solicitor, left alone, leaning back in his chair, stroked his chin with his hand as if to discover whether it wanted shaving.
'They don't know that Miss May Bewicke is Mr Samuel Collyer's niece. I fancy that there are only one or two persons who are aware that he has a niece upon the stage. George Burton certainly was not.'
He smiled as if his own thoughts tickled him.
CHAPTER III
MISS BROAD COMMANDS
They were in Regent's Park again; at the same place; on the same seat. She said to him as he came up,--
'I told papa that you were here. I'm of age, and I suppose I'm entitled to do as I please; but I made up my mind that I'd have no secrecy. It's degrading.'
'Well, degrading's strong. And what did papa say?'
'I mentioned, at the same time, that your uncle was dead, and under the circumstances he perhaps thought it advisable not to say much. At anyrate he didn't.'
'He might have done; and he will do soon.'
Something in his tone caught her ear.
'Guy! What's the matter? You don't mean--?'
'Not exactly, though I'm not sure it isn't worse.'
She half rose from the seat.
'Has he left you nothing?'
He told her the purport of his uncle's will; she listening eager-eyed and open-mouthed.
'Do you mean to say that you're to get this ridiculous ring out of Miss Bewicke's possession in four days, by fair means or foul?'
He nodded.
'But it's monstrous.'
'It is a pretty tall order?'
'What do you propose to do?'
'I propose to call upon Miss Bewicke.'
In a moment, without any warning, she was standing up beside him stiff and straight.
'I see. Now I understand. That's the idea. I've no doubt that Miss Bewicke will find you a most persuasive person.'
'My dear Letty!'
'Weren't you and Miss Bewicke once engaged to be married? Pray don't trouble yourself to explain. I know all about it. You need have no fear of losing your uncle's inheritance. You are quite sure to understand each other. She'll be delighted to give you the ring in exchange for another. Would you like to give her mine?'
She actually began to unbutton her glove. He groaned.
'It's worth while seeing ghosts in Africa for this!'
'And what do you propose to say to Miss Bewicke when you call upon her?'
'That's what I want you to tell me.'
'I tell you! As if you didn't know! After the stories I have heard of her I had hoped that you would have had no more to do with Miss Bewicke. But, of course, my wishes do not count.'
'If the stories you have heard are to Miss Bewicke's discredit, you may take my word for it that they are libels.'
'You are sure to know. I am glad you have such a high opinion of her. When you have seen her you might let me know what she says. That is, if she should say anything which was not spoken in the strictest confidence.'
She actually walked away. He went after her.
'My dear Letty, don't you want me to try to get the