It is admitted that Man as a whole is not infallible, but each individual man has a secret belief that he is. Haskins was no more than other mortals--in fact, less so--yet he had an idea that his caution and common-sense invariably prevented his making mistakes. Assuredly, as a rule, he was rarely in error, but to every rule there is an exception, and Haskins' ill-judged frankness to Mrs. Crosbie was the exception in this case. It said much for Gerald's view of life that he recognized his mistake at once, and at the cost of some unpleasantness hastened to correct it. This an interview with Major Rebb, which was likely to be a stormy one.
At the outset Gerald believed that he had read Mrs. Crosbie's character all wrong, and that even after years of close companionship--since she had been so intimate with his mother--he knew very little about her. Had she really been that which he believed her to be, she would--he thought immediately on leaving Ladysmith Court--have readily helped him in his somewhat eccentric wooing. But on calmer reflection he arrived at the conclusion that he, himself, was in error.
His first mistake lay in overlooking the relationship existing between Rebb and the widow. Being engaged to him--as she had admitted--she certainly could not be expected to act against what she believed to be his interests. And his second mistake consisted in hoping that Mrs. Crosbie--who in many ways was particularly conventional--would take charge of a girl believed to be insane. It was only natural that Mrs. Crosbie should believe Mavis to be mad, as, being willing to accept the Major as her second husband, she could scarcely credit him with . And if Mavis was not insane her in the Pixy's House was certainly a conspiracy against her rights as a human being. Gerald took this view from personal observation, and because he mistrusted Rebb: but Mrs. Crosbie, as engaged to marry the Major, could not be expected to a theory which would render Rebb unworthy of her hand, or indeed of her acquaintance.
It may be here mentioned that Haskins had not mentioned the wonderful which existed between Charity and Mavis, since the thought had flashed across him, while speaking, that such a statement might Tod in the mysterious business, which was not to be thought of. All Mrs. Crosbie practically knew was, that Gerald loved a reputedly insane of her promised husband, and desired her to side against that promised husband, so that he might marry the girl. It was impossible to expect that any woman would act in this way, and Gerald acknowledged to himself that Mrs. Crosbie had behaved in a reasonable manner in refusing to help him.
In fact, she had behaved extremely well in holding to her promise of one month's , for many a woman would have told Rebb there and then what had been said about him. Therefore Mrs. Crosbie was not only right, but Gerald felt that he was in the wrong; felt, indeed, that he had acted somewhat shabbily. The sole way in which he could right matters, and recover his self-respect, was to see Rebb, as soon as possible, and explain himself. Then, as man to man, they could thresh the matter out. With this idea Haskins drove back to his rooms in Frederick Street, Mayfair, intending to change and pack, and catch the midnight train from Paddington to Exeter.
But, while , he reflected that it would be better to first assure himself that Mrs. Crosbie was correct in stating the Major's whereabouts. Rebb's rooms were also in Frederick Street, and only a few doors away, so it would be just as well to run in and to make . Rebb might return on the morrow, in which case it would hardly be worth while to journey to Denleigh so hurriedly. Also Mrs. Crosbie having promised to hold her tongue for one month, there was no necessity to act at once, since two or three, or even more, days would make very little difference. Finally, Gerald was to return to the Pixy's House and to Mavis until he knew if his theory regarding a possible will was correct; otherwise he would have nothing to tell her.
While on the desirability of calling at Rebb's rooms, Gerald desired to smoke to aid his thoughts after the manner of men. He mechanically took his cigarette-case, but found some difficulty in opening it. As his case was usually easy to open, he looked down with attention to see what was the matter, and found that he had brought away Mrs. Crosbie's cigarette-case by mistake. Probably he had laid his own case on the small table alongside hers--and in fact he remembered doing so--and when departing had unconsciously taken the one which did not belong to him. He resolved to return it at once by post, but meanwhile took a cigarette therefrom to smoke, since there were no others in his rooms. This entailed opening the case, and when it was open a small object, which had been placed within, fell out.
This proved to be a tiny coral hand, , and holding a , something like those which are sold in Naples to the evil eye. A little gold ring was screwed into the coral, so that the trinket could be attached to a watch chain or to a . After a careless glance, and a passing thought as to why Mrs. Crosbie should use her cigarette-case as a jewel-box, Haskins placed the coral hand on top of the cigarette-case, which he laid on the mantelpiece. Then he lighted up and walked out, to seek the Major's rooms.
These, as has been said, were only a few doors distant, and Haskins speedily arrived on the first floor of the somewhat house wherein they were . He found the door open, and a mild-looking valet talking to a veiled woman with a figure. While waiting to address the man himself, Gerald heard him state to the lady that his master had gone to Devonshire on the previous day and would be back within four and twenty hours. The lady appeared annoyed, but declined to leave a card, or to give any message. However, she stepped aside, fuming--as Haskins guessed from the way in which she stamped her foot and clenched her hands--and permitted him to speak. Gerald asked the same question, as to the Major's whereabouts, and received the same answer, upon which he produced his card.
"Tell Major Rebb, when he returns, that Mr. Haskins wishes to see him on a private matter. Mr. Gerald Haskins," added the young man, handing the card. Then he turned away, wondering why the veiled woman should utter a of surprise when she heard the name.
But his wonder was still further increased when, on the stairs, he felt his arm grasped, and found that the strange lady was at his elbow. "You are Mr. Gerald?" she said in deep contralto tones, "may I call you--Prince Gerald?"
Haskins started. It was in this way that Mavis addressed him. But this woman could not be Mavis, for she was too thin and too tall, and her voice was too worn. Could she be---- "Bellaria!" he said tentatively.
"Bellaria," the woman softly--they were on the pavement by this time. "Take me somewhere safe. I wish to speak with you."
"My rooms are close at hand," said Haskins , and wondering at this unexpected encounter with one whom he had believed to be miles away. "We can go there at once, Bell----"
"!" she clutched his arm again, and looked over her shoulder, as she had looked when in the quadrangle. "Don't say that name here. They may hear--they may hear."
"Who may hear?"
"Never mind; never mind. Come inside; come inside. Oh, Dio! no mention of my name," and she hurried into the indicated by Gerald.
In a few minutes they were in Haskins' , and here again Bellaria's nervousness betrayed itself.
"There is no one can hear us?" she asked, her veil up, and her eyes roving round the room.
"No, no," replied the young man . "The man and his wife who attend to me in these are below. You can talk freely. By the way," he asked , "how did you know my name?"
Bellaria, looking more and haggard than ever, flung herself into an armchair, and laughed uncomfortably. "Prince Gerald. Who calls you Prince Gerald, Mr. Haskins?"
"Mavis does, but----"
"Then it is true, what she confessed to me: that you love her and she loves you?"
"Quite true," rejoined Haskins quickly. "We met by chance, and----"
"By chance!" repeated Bellaria scornfully. "When you came where you had no business to come. I know all!"
"How did you find out?" Gerald was perfectly calm when he asked this question, as she did not seem to be hostile.
"I saw that Mavis was not herself, that she was disturbed, and guessed that she was keeping something secret from me. I watched, and saw her lead a man across the quadrangle. When she came in that night I told her what I had seen, and so--she confessed about the sealed message, and about her secret meetings with you. Also that you desired to marry her. Fool!" cried Bellaria pointing a scornful finger at her host, "would you marry a madwoman?"
"Not in making Mavis Durham my wife," said Haskins coolly. "She is perfectly sane."
"And I--Bellaria Dondi--say that she is not."
"Are you sane yourself?" asked Haskins, turning the tables on her.
The woman reared herself in her chair, gripping the arms, and directed a fierce gaze at him. "What do you mean?" she demanded.
"Why did you not come out and face me when Mavis talked with me in the garden?" he remarked, meeting her gaze firmly and fairly.
"Because--because---- Oh, there is no explanation."
"I think there is. You dare not venture out after dark, so you waited until Mavis entered the house to question her."
"How do you know that I dare not venture out after dark?" she asked, and her figure seemed to and shrink.
"Mavis told me."
"Mavis knows nothing, nothing, do you hear? God forbid that she should ever know anything. But my business is my own business, and has nothing to do with you, Prince Gerald. Mavis is crazy: she would kill you as soon ............