"You know, Harry, there may be a great deal in it?" Victoria's
countenance showed her doubts.
"In the threat about her father? Pure bluff, mother!--absolute bluff! As
for the bronze--a wife can't steal from her husband. And under these
circumstances!--I should like to see a British jury that would touch
her!"
"But she admits that half the proceeds went to her father."
"Twenty years ago?" Tatham's shrug was magnificent. "I tell you he'll get
no change out of that!"
"But he hints at other things?"
"Bluff again! Why the man's helpless in his bed!"
"I suppose even dying can be made more unpleasant by the police," said
Victoria. She pondered, walking thoughtfully beside a rather thwarted and
impatient youth, eager to play the champion of the distressed in his own
way; and that, possibly, from more motives than one. Suddenly her face
cleared.
"I will go myself!" she said, laying her hand on her son's arm.
"Mother!"
"Yes! I'll go myself. Leave it to me, Harry. I will drive over to
Threlfall to-morrow evening--quite alone and without notice. I had some
influence with him once," she said, with her eyes on the ground.
Tatham protested warmly. The smallest allusion to any early relation
between his mother and Melrose was almost intolerable to him. But Lady
Tatham fought for her idea. She pointed out again that Melrose might very
well have some information that could be used with ghastly effect even
upon a dying man; that Netta was much attached to her father, and would
probably not make up her mind to any drastic step whatever in face of
Melrose's threats.
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