He walked about the room with the quick eager step
that was peculiarly his own, while Stoddard, Larry and
I stared at him. Bates was helping the dazed sheriff
to his feet. Morgan and the rest of the foe were crawling
and staggering away, muttering, as though imploring
the air of heaven against an evil spirit.
Pickering sat silent, not sure whether he saw a ghost
or real flesh and blood, and Larry kept close to him, cutting
off his retreat. I think we all experienced that bewildered
feeling of children who are caught in mischief
by a sudden parental visitation. My grandfather went
about peering at the books, with a tranquil air that was
disquieting.
He paused suddenly before the design for the memorial
tablet, which I had made early in my stay at
Glenarm House. I had sketched the lettering with some
care, and pinned it against a shelf for my more leisurely
study of its phrases. The old gentlemen pulled out his
glasses and stood with his hands behind his back, reading.
When he finished he walked to where I stood.
"Jack!" he said, "Jack, my boy!" His voice shook
and his hands trembled as he laid them on my shoulders.
"Marian,"-he turned, seeking her, but the girl had
vanished. "Just as well," he said. "This room is hardly
an edifying sight for a woman." I heard, for an instant,
a light hurried step in the wall.
Pickering, too, heard that faint, fugitive sound, and
our eyes met at the instant it ceased. The thought of
her tore my heart, and I felt that Pickering saw and
knew and was glad.
"They have all gone, sir," reported Bates, returning
to the room.
"Now, gentlemen," began my grandfather, seating
himself, "I owe you an apology; this little secret of mine
was shared by only two persons. One of these was Bates,"
-he paused as an exclamation broke from all of us; and
he went on, enjoying our amazement,-"and the other
was Marian Devereux. I had often observed that at a
man's death his property gets into the wrong hands, or
becomes a bone of contention among lawyers. Sometimes,"
and the old gentleman laughed, "an executor
proves incompetent or dishonest. I was thoroughly
fooled in you, Pickering. The money you owe me is a
large sum; and you were so delighted to hear of my
death that you didn't even make sure I was really out of
the way. You were perfectly willing to accept Bates'
word for it; and I must say that Bates carried it off
splendidly."
Pickering rose, the blood surging again in his face,
and screamed at Bates, pointing a shaking finger at the
man.
"You impostor,-you perjurer! The law will deal
with your case."
"To be sure," resumed my grandfather calmly;
"Bates did make false affidavits about my death; but
possibly-"