other streets, but she passed our place no more. Nothing was ever said, at least to me, about her experience; whether she related her troubles at home I do not know, but if it is so, I presume her people realized it would be next to impossible to prove a rape under such peculiar conditions, in plain sight of a half dozen people, so if they knew what had happened they at least made no fuss about it.
“A few months later I learned that the girl had crossed the Channel and was taking a 'rest' in France; I strongly suspect that I am the father of a child I have never seen, but that, of course, is only a suspicion.”
“Bravo!” cried Roxboro. “That was an ingenious scheme, but you are a lucky rascal indeed that you were able to perpetrate such an outrageous piece of villainy and go scot-free!”
“My lord,” said Montgomery, “I have a little scheme in mind, which I think will bring your lordship some amusement. I am acquainted with certain people in town, particularly a Mrs. Edwards, the guardian of a certain very beautiful young lady who is about to be married to a fellow named Trant. I have a plan which, with your lordship's permission, I shall try to put into effect. If your lordship will grant me some time off in which to perfect my plans and, incidentally, a few banknotes with which to take care of certain details, I shall endeavor to bring about something that I am sure will please you; that is, if you care to trust me with such a mission.”
“By all means,” replied Roxboro. “You may take what time you need. You are an ingenious devil, Montgomery, and I will leave the details up to you; I am expecting something which will be new and novel and highly entertaining; try not to disappoint me.”
“Very well, your lordship,” replied the crafty Montgomery. “If my plans go through, I think I can safely promise you some lively entertainment.”
With which he excused himself.
VOLUME VI
Well, here we are, Montgomery thought to himself, and stopping before the busy shop that bore the name of Trant over the door, he opened it and entered.
Proceeding directly back to the tiny office, he gently rapped and, upon being invited to enter, saluted the handsome young man at a desk and proffered a letter written by Lord Roxboro himself.
Mr. Trant (for that was who it was) opened the missive and after reading it rose to his feet and bowed to Montgomery and invited him to seat himself in a chair before the desk.
Montgomery sat down and, drawing out a cigar, offered one to his companion and proceeded at once to the subject that was on his mind.
“I suppose, Mr. Trant,” he started, “that you fully understand that Lord Roxboro considers you one of his best friends and in fact has had an eye upon you ever since you have started in business here.
“Lord Roxboro is of that type and likes to encourage others in business.
“I can assure you that affiliations once made with so powerful a man will lead you far in the business world.”
Trant was all at sea as to Montgomery's visit and murmuring thanks for his lordship's interest, he awaited further details of the emissary's call.
Montgomery, however, was in no hurry to conclude his task and, after critically examining the glowing cigar tip, continued in a voice so as not to be heard on the other side of the short partition that separated them from the shop proper:
“Lord Roxboro, as you are probably aware,” he said, “is one of the most wealthy and influential men in the district and from your contact with him in business you know that what he says is generally always done!
“Lord Roxboro is aware of your coming nuptials, and your connection with the family of Miss Hanscombe is looked upon by him with the greatest favor.
“By the way, Trant, what is Miss Hanscombe's Christian name, may I ask?”
“Grace,” answered Trant, looking hard at his self-possessed visitor and wondering what this talk would lead to.
“Well, well-Grace,” said Montgomery, rolling the name over in his mouth. “A pretty name, I must say.
“Well, Trant, as I have said before, Lord Roxboro takes an active interest in your affairs, and I being his confidant in all matters of this sort, happen to know… to know that at present you find your financial affairs at a low ebb. Am I right in this, Trant?”
“Oh, yes,” admitted Trant, thinking that at last he was seeing the dawn. “I am rather short of funds and I realize that his lordship has several of my notes on hand which were to be paid earlier and I assure you that at a very near date I will redeem them and I will no longer have to worry in regard to financial straits.”
“Ah,” said Montgomery significantly, “now we reach the crux of it.
“As you say, Trant, in a very short time you will have no reason to worry in regard to funds. If you will pardon my asking you a rather intimate question, is it not true that your conjunction with the fair Grace is expected to alleviate your worries in this particular quarter?”
Trant leaped to his feet at this and Montgomery, raising a restraining hand, begged him to reseat himself.
Realizing his predicament, the merchant slumped down in the chair and, bowing his head in his hands, bitterly admitted that Montgomery's guess was true.
“Well, then,” said the satisfied valet, “now that we have cleared that up, I hope that you will admit to me that your marriage with the fair Grace is based mostly upon the financial help that she will bring to you.
“In other words the money she brings is of far more interest to you than the passenger herself. Am I not right, Trant?”
“Not quite,” said Trant. “You seem to take a lot for granted, Mr. Montgomery, and I cannot see the sense of your subjecting me to a questioning on an affair that is usually left to one's own mind.
“I am in love with Grace and have proposed marriage to her. Our affairs are our own and outside interference, I think, is, entirely uncalled for.
“You, as a gentleman, should realize this and I cannot understand your motive in coming here and talking in this manner.”
“As you well know, Lord Roxboro, is in a position to help or harm you; it depends entirely upon yourself whether you adopt his friendship or forever incur his enmity.”
“Will you come to the point and say what you are here for?” asked Trant irritably.
“I will,” agreed Montgomery. “Lord Roxboro wishes to mark all of your notes 'Paid in full' and return them to you and to arrange for credit at the bank and to present you with a sum of money equal to that brought by your bride.
“Does that interest you, Trant?”
Trant almost fell from his chair at this proposition, and had to have Montgomery repeat it several times before he realized to the full that he was not dreaming.
“And what am I-and what am I to do to deserve this generosity upon the part of your master?” he asked suspiciously.
“It all concerns your affianced Grace,” said Montgomery simply.
“His lordship has seen the charming lady and as you probably know, Trant, there is an ancient custom among the nobles whereby one of noble blood has the privilege of claiming for his own any one of the subjects of his domain during the first night-that is to say, of course, the bride of any of the male subjects.
“That is it in a nutshell and Lord Roxboro-provided you accept his generous offer-is willing to do as I have said: upon your submitting your blushing wife to him for the first few hours of your married life, you will be substantially set for many years to come.
“Refuse and the nobleman will be terribly avenged. I venture to say that should you not see the logic of this plan, you will be destitute and penniless in another fortnight.”
Trant listened spellbound to the valet and could hardly believe his ears as he rose to his feet and strode about the small room that served him as an office.
