Spring Heeled Jack | Page 9

but whether I eventually succeed in proving my claim or
not this money shall be faithfully returned. Once more, thank you, sir,
and good-bye."
With this Jack and Ned left the room. As soon as they had taken their
departure the "baronet," as we must style him for a time, recovered his
self-possession to a certain extent.

Turning to the solicitor, he said--
"How much was there in that purse, Mr. Reece? Of course I cannot
allow you to lose your money over the unfortunate whelp."
The lawyer, who, although the documentary evidence was so plain,
could not help thinking with Jack Dacre that some villainy was afloat,
answered the baronet very shortly.
"What I gave the lad, I gave him out of pure good feeling, I want no
repayment from anyone. And, mark my words, Sir Michael Dacre, that
boy will return my loan sooner or later, and if there is anything wrong
about these papers I feel assured that he will carry out his threat with
regard to yourself."
"What do you mean, insolent--" cried the baronet.
But ere he could finish the sentence, Mr. Reece calmly said--
"You do not suppose that the matter will drop here? The poor lad has
no friends, and I was stupid in not having detained him when he
proposed to leave this house. However, I missed that opportunity of
questioning him as to his life in India, and the relations that existed
between his father and his mother. One thing is certain, however, and
that is he will appear here again."
"Well, and if he does!" asked the angry baronet.
"Well, and if he does he will find a firm friend in Sam Reece,"
answered the lawyer. "I shall retain these papers--not by virtue of any
legal right that I can claim to possess. So, if you want them, you have
only to apply to the courts of law to recover possession of them."
"Then you shall do no more business for me," cried Michael Dacre.
"I should have thought," replied the solicitor, "that my few words had
effectually severed all business relations between us. As it appears that
you do not take this view, allow me to say that all the gold in the Indies

would not tempt me to act as your legal adviser for another hour. A
man who can behave to an unfortunate boy-cousin in the manner you
have behaved to Jack Dacre, legitimate or not, can hold no business
communications with Sam Reece."
"But how about my papers?" quoth the now half-frightened baronet.
"I will send you your bill, and on receipt of a cheque for my coats I will
return you all the papers of yours that I hold--save and except, mark
you, those relating to the marriage of the late baronet and the birth and
baptism of his son."
The new baronet looked at his ally, Mr. Alfred Morgan, but saw very
little that was consoling in that worthy man's face.
He therefore accepted the position, and with as haughty a bow as he
could possibly make under the circumstances, he allowed Mr. Reece to
take his departure.
By this time Jack Dacre and Ned Chump were more than a mile away
from the hall.
Ned, although far more experienced in the ways of the world than Jack
Dacre, tacitly allowed the latter to take the lead of the "expedition," if
such a word may be used.
Jack, boy as he was, was in no way deficient in common sense, so
perhaps Ned was justified in accepting the youngster as his leader.
For some miles not a word escaped Jack Dacre's lips.
At last they arrived at the old-fashioned town of Arundel, and here Jack
suddenly turned to his companion, and said--
"We'll stop here and rest, and think over what will be our best course to
pursue."
"All serene, skipper," answered Ned, "I am quite content."

Jack gave a melancholy smile as he replied to the sailor's salutation--
"Oh! then you don't object to calling me your skipper, although you
have heard that I am base born, and have no right to bear any name at
all."
"Never fear, Master Jack--or Sir John, perhaps, I ought to say--there is
some rascality at work, and I believe that that Mr. Alfred Morgan is at
the bottom of it. But we shall circumvent the villains, I am sure, never
fear."
"Yes," replied Jack, "I think we shall."
"Ah!" said Ned, "but how?"
"I have not been idle during our long walk," said Jack, as the two
entered the hospitable portals of the Bridge House Hotel.
"I have not been idle, and if we can get a private room we will talk the
matter over, and see how much money the good lawyer was kind
enough to give us."