The Talleyrand Maxim - J. S. Fletcher (best ebook reader ubuntu txt) 📗

CHAPTER XXI

THE DIRECT CHARGE

 

While Byner was pursuing his investigations in the neighbourhood of the

Green Man, Collingwood was out at Normandale Grange, discussing

certain matters with Nesta Mallathorpe. He had not only thought long and

deeply over his conversation with Cobcroft the previous evening, but had

begun to think about the crucial point of the clerk’s story as soon as

he spoke in the morning, and the result of his meditations was that he

rose early, intercepted Cobcroft before he started for Mallathorpe’s

Mill and asked his permission to re-tell the story to Miss Mallathorpe.

Cobcroft raised no objection, and when Collingwood had been to his

chambers and seen his letters, he chartered a car and rode out to

Normandale where he told Nesta of what he had learned and of his own

conclusions. And Nesta, having listened carefully to all he had to tell,

put a direct question to him.

 

“You think this document which Pratt told me he holds is my late uncle’s

will?” she said. “What do you suppose its terms to be?”

 

“Frankly—these, or something like these,” replied Collingwood. “And I

get at my conclusions in this way. Your uncle died intestate—consequently,

everything in the shape of real estate came to your brother and everything

in personal property to your brother and yourself. Now, supposing that

the document which Pratt boasts of holding is the will, one fact is very

certain—the property, real or personal, is not disposed of in the way

in which it became disposed of because of John Mallathorpe’s intestacy.

He probably disposed of it in quite another fashion. Why do I think that?

Because the probability is that Pratt said to your mother, ‘I have got

John Mallathorpe’s will! It doesn’t leave his property to your son and

daughter. Therefore, I have all of you at my mercy. Make it worth my

while, or I will bring the will forward.’ Do you see that situation?”

 

“Then,” replied Nesta, after a moment’s reflection, “you do think that

my mother was very anxious to get that document—a will—from Pratt?”

 

Collingwood knew what she was thinking of—her mind was still uneasy

about Pratt’s account of the affair of the footbridge. But—the matter

had to be faced.

 

“I think your mother would naturally be very anxious to secure such a

document,” he said. “You must remember that according to Pratt’s story

to you, she tried to buy it from him—just as you did yourself, though

you, of course, had no idea of what it was you wanted to buy.”

 

“What I wanted to buy,” she answered readily, “was necessity from

further interference! But—is there no way of compelling Pratt to give

up that document—whatever it is? Can’t he be made to give it up?”

 

“A way is may be being made, just now—through another affair,” replied

Collingwood. “At present matters are vague. One couldn’t go to Pratt and

demand something at which one is, after all, only guessing. Your mother,

of course, would deny that she knows what it is that Pratt holds.

But—there is the possibility of the duplicate to which Cobcroft

referred. Now, I want to put the question straight to you—supposing

that duplicate will can be found—and supposing—to put it plainly–its

terms dispossess you of all your considerable property—what then?”

 

“Do you want the exact truth?” she asked. “Well, then, I should just

welcome anything that cleared up all this mystery! What is it at

present, this situation, but intolerable? I know that my

mother is in Pratt’s power, and likely to remain so as long as ever this

goes on—probably for life. She will not give me her confidence. What is

more, I am certain that she is giving it to Esther Mawson—who is most

likely hand-in-glove with Pratt. Esther Mawson is always with her. I am

almost sure that she communicates with Pratt through Esther Mawson. It

is all what I say—intolerable! I had rather lose every penny that has

come into my hands than have this go on.”

 

“Answer me a plain question,” said Collingwood. “Is your mother fond of

money, position—all that sort of thing?”

 

“She is fond of power!” replied Nesta. “It pleased her greatly when we

came into all this wealth to know that she was the virtual

administrator. Even if she could only do it by collusion with Pratt, she

would make a fight for all that she—and I—hold. It’s useless to deny

that. Don’t forget,” she added, looking appealingly at Collingwood,

“don’t forget that she has known what it was to be poor—and if one does

come into money—I suppose one doesn’t want to lose it again.”

 

“Oh, it’s natural enough!” agreed Collingwood. “But—if things are as I

think, Pratt would be an incubus, a mill-stone, for ever. Anyway, I came

out to tell you what I’ve learned, and what I have an idea may be the

truth, and above all, to get your definite opinion. You want the Pratt

influence out of the way—at any cost?”

 

“At any cost!” she affirmed. “Even if I have to go back to earning my

own living! Whatever pleasure in life could there be for me, knowing

that at the back of all this there is that—what?”

 

“Pratt!” answered Collingwood. “Pratt! He’s the shadow—with his deep

schemes. However, as I said—there may be—developing at this

moment—another way of getting at Pratt. Gentlemen like Pratt, born

schemers, invariably forget one very important factor in life—the

unexpected! Even the cleverest and most subtle schemer may have his

delicate machinery broken to pieces by a chance bit of mere dust getting

into it at an unexpected turn of the wheels. And to turn to plainer

language—I’m going back to Barford now to hear what another man has to

say concerning certain of Pratt’s recent movements.”

 

Eldrick was already waiting when Collingwood reached his chambers: Byner

came there a few moments later. Within half an hour the barrister had

told his story of Cobcroft, and the inquiry agent his of his visit to

the Green Man and the quarries. And the solicitor listened quietly and

attentively to both, and in the end turned to Collingwood.

 

“I’ll withdraw my opinion about the nature of the document which Pratt

got hold of,” he said. “What he’s got is what you think—John

Mallathorpe’s will!”

 

“If I may venture an opinion,” remarked Byner, “that’s dead certain!”

 

“And now,” continued Eldrick, “we’re faced with a nice situation! Don’t

either of you forget this fact. Not out of willingness on her part, but

because she’s got to do it, Mrs. Mallathorpe and Pratt are partners in

that affair. He’s got the will—but she knows its contents.