The Face of the Abbot | Page 5

could scarcely describe the strange sensation which visited me. Was it possible that the fear which I had seen so strongly depicted on De Castro's face was caused by Madame Sara? Was the mystery in the old Portuguese castle also connected with this terrible woman? If so, what dreadful revelations might not be before us! Helen was not the first innocent girl who believed in Madame, and not the first whose life was threatened.
"Why don't you speak, Mr. Druce?" she asked me at last. "What are you thinking of?"
"I would rather not say what I am thinking of," I answered; "but I am very glad of one thing, and that is that I am going with you."
"You are my kindest, best friend," she said; "and now I will tell you one thing more. Madame said that the fact of your being one of the party put all danger out of the case so far as I was concerned, for she knew you to be the cleverest man she ever met."
"Ah!" I replied, slowly, "there is a cleverer man than I, and his name is Eric Vandeleur. Did she happen to speak of him?"
"No. Who is he? I have never heard of him."
"I will tell you some day," I replied, " but not now."
I rose, bade her a hasty good-bye, and went straight to Vandeleur's rooms.
Whatever happened, I had made up my mind to consult him in the matter. He was out when I called, but I left a note, and he came round to my place in the course of the evening.
In less than a quarter of an hour I put him in possession of all the facts. He received my story in silence.
"Well!" I cried at last. "What do you think?"
"There is but one conclusion, Druce," was his reply. "There is a motive in this mystery--method in this madness. Madame is mixed up in it. That being the case, anything supernatural is out of the question. I am sorry Miss Sherwood is going to Lisbon, but the fact that you are going too may be her protection. Beyond doubt her life is in danger. Well, you must do your best, and forewarned is forearmed. I should like to go with you, but I cannot. Perhaps I may do more good here watching the arch-fiend who is pulling the strings."
De Castro took the information quietly that his niece was about to accompany us.
"Women are strange creatures," he said. "Who would suppose that a delicate girl would subject herself to the nervous terrors she must undergo in the castle? Well, let her come--it may be best, and my friend, the lady about whom I spoke to you, recommended it."
"You mean Madame Sara?" I said.
"Ah!" he answered, with a start. "Do you know her?"
"Slightly," I replied, in a guarded tone. Then I turned the conversation.
Our journey took place without adventure, and when we got to Lisbon we put up at Durrand's Hotel.
On the afternoon of that same day we went to interview Manuel Sousa, the lawyer who had charge of Mr. Sherwood's affairs. His office was in the Rue do Rio Janeiro. He was a short, bright-eyed little man, having every appearance of honesty and ability. He received us affably and looked with much interest at Helen Sherwood, whose calm, brave face and English appearance impressed him favourably.
"So you have come all this long way, Senhora," he said, "to investigate the mystery of your poor father's death? Be assured I will do everything in my power to help you. And now you would all like to see the documents and papers. Here they are at your service."
He opened a tin box and lifted out a pile of papers. Helen went up to one of the windows.
"I don't understand Portuguese," she said. "You will examine them for me, won't you Uncle Petro, and you also, Mr. Druce?"
I had a sufficient knowledge of Portuguese to be able to read the will, and I quickly discovered that De Castro's account of it was quite correct.
"Is it your intention to go to Castello Mondego?" asked the lawyer, when our interview was coming to an end.
"I can answer for myself that I intend to go," I replied.
"It will give me great pleasure to take Mr. Druce to that romantic spot," said De Castro.
"And I go with you," cried Helen.
"My dear, dear young lady," said the lawyer, a flicker of concern crossing his bright eyes, "is that necessary? You will find the castle very lonely and not prepared for the reception of a lady."
"even so, I have come all this long way to visit it," replied Helen. "I go with my friend, Mr. Druce, and with my uncle, and so far as I am concerned the sooner we get there the better."
The lawyer held up his hands. "I