第118章

When Charles left Ducie Street he had caught the first train home,but had no inkling of the newest development until late at night.Then his father,who had dined alone,sent for him,and in very grave tones inquired for Margaret.

"I don't know where she is,pater,"said Charles.

"Dolly kept back dinner nearly an hour for her.""Tell me when she comes in--."

Another hour passed.The servants went to bed,and Charles visited his father again,to receive further instructions.

Mrs.Wilcox had still not returned.

"I'll sit up for her as late as you like,but she can hardly be coming.Isn't she stopping with her sister at the hotel?""Perhaps,"said Mr.Wilcox thoughtfully--"perhaps.""Can I do anything for you,sir?"

"Not tonight,my boy."

Mr.Wilcox liked being called sir.He raised his eyes and gave his son more open a look of tenderness than he usually ventured.He saw Charles as little boy and strong man in one.

Though his wife had proved unstable his children were left to him.

After midnight he tapped on Charles's door.

"I can't sleep,"he said."I had better have a talk with you and get it over."He complained of the heat.Charles took him out into the garden,and they paced up and down in their dressing-gowns.

Charles became very quiet as the story unrolled;he had known all along that Margaret was as bad as her sister.

"She will feel differently in the morning,"said Mr.Wilcox,who had of course said nothing about Mrs.Bast."But I cannot let this kind of thing continue without comment.I am morally certain that she is with her sister at Howards End.The house is mine--and,Charles,it will be yours--and when I say that no one is to live there,I mean that no one is to live there.I won't have it."He looked angrily at the moon."To my mind this question is connected with something far greater,the rights of property itself.""Undoubtedly,"said Charles.

Mr.Wilcox linked his arm in his son's,but somehow liked him less as he told him more."I don't want you to conclude that my wife and I had anything of the nature of a quarrel.She was only over-wrought,as who would not be?I shall do what I can for Helen,but on the understanding that they clear out of the house at once.

Do you see?That is a sine qua non."

"Then at eight tomorrow I may go up in the car?""Eight or earlier.Say that you are acting as my representative,and,of course,use no violence,Charles."On the morrow,as Charles returned,leaving Leonard dead upon the gravel,it did not seem to him that he had used violence.

Death was due to heart disease.His stepmother herself had said so,and even Miss Avery had acknowledged that he only used the flat of the sword.On his way through the village he informed the police,who thanked him,and said there must be an inquest.He found his father in the garden shading his eyes from the sun.

"It has been pretty horrible,"said Charles gravely.

"They were there,and they had the man up there with them too.""What--what man?"

"I told you last night.His name was Bast."

"My God,is it possible?"said Mr.Wilcox.

"In your mother's house!Charles,in your mother's house!""I know,pater.That was what I felt.

As a matter of fact,there is no need to trouble about the man.He was in the last stages of heart disease,and just before I could show him what I thought of him he went off.The police are seeing about it at this moment."Mr.Wilcox listened attentively.

"I got up there--oh,it couldn't have been more than half-past seven.The Avery woman was lighting a fire for them.

They were still upstairs.I waited in the drawing-room.We were all moderately civil and collected,though I had my suspicions.

I gave them your message,and Mrs.Wilcox said,'Oh yes,I see;yes,'in that way of hers.""Nothing else?"