'iu

^<"-T-

S>^. ^^^ ^

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

■» ^/•%*

1.0

I.I

1.25

11=

U IIIIII.6

pV^^

Photographic

Sciences
Corporatiori

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 873-4503

V-fV

'<^.

CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques

Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques

The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Features of this
copy which may be bibliographically unique,
which may alter any of the images in the
reproduction, or which may significantly change
the usual method of filming, are checked below.

L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sent peut-dtre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
une imagj reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger vne
modification dans la m6thode normale de filmage
sont indiquds ci-dessous.

n
n

D
D
D
D

Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur

Covers damaged/
Couverture endommagee

Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaurde et/ou pellicul6e

Cover title missing/

Le titre de couverture manque

Coloured maps/

Cartes g6ographiques en couleur

Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)

Coloured plates and/or illustrations/
Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur

Bound with other material/
Reli6 avec d'autres documents

Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion
along interior margin/

La reliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distortion le long de \i marge int6rieure

Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certairies pages blanches ajoutdes
lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte,
mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas 6t6 filmdes.

□
D
D

D
D
D
D

Coloured pages/
Pages de couleur

Pages damaged/
Pages endommag^es

Pages restored and/or laminated/
Pages restaur^es et/ou pellicul6es

Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
Pages d6color6es, tachet^es ou piquees

Pages detached/
Pages d6tach6es

Showthrough/
Transparence

Quality of print varies/
Qualite in^gale de rimpression

Includes supplementary material/
Comprend du materiel supplementaire

Only edition available/
Seule Edition disponible

Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata
slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages totaiement ou psrtiellement
obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure,
etc., ont 6t6 fi'mdes d nouveau de facon d
obtenir la meilleure image possible.

Additional comments:/
Commentaires suppldmentaires;

This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/

Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous.

18X 22X

10X

14X

26X

30X

12X

16X

20X

24X

28X

32X

lils

difier

.■ne

tage

The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks
to the generosity of:

National Library of Canada

The images appearing here are the be&t quality
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.

Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copies are filmed beginning on the
first page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.

The last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol —♦►(meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever applies.

Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large to be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginning in the upper left htnd corner, left to
right and top to bottom, as tna.^y frames as
required. The following diagran s illustrate the
method:

L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit gr^ce d la
g6n6rosit6 de:

Bibliothdque nationale du Canada

Les images suivantes ont 6td reproduces avec le
plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et
de la nettetd de rexemplair3 filmd, et en
conformit6 avec les conditions du contrat de
filmage.

Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en
papier est imprim^e sont film^s en commenpant
par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la
dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impi-ession ou d'illustration, soit par le second
plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires
originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la
premidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration et er. terminant par
la dernidre page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.

Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la
dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le
cas: le symbole — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le
symbole V signifie "FIN".

ues cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent §tre
film6s d des taux de rdduction diff6rents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour §tre
reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 A partir
de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite,
et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre
d'images ndcessaire. Los diagrammes suivants
illustrent la mdthode.

rrata
o

jelure,
1 d

□

32X

i 4

The Lunotic at Large

A Novel

J. STORER CLOUSTON

CANADIAN COPYRIGHT EDITION,

THE W. J. GAGE CO., Limited
TORONTO

1810

'MIXED, in the year iSgg.

;

The Lunatic at Large

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

INTRODUCTORY.

Into the history of Mr Francis Beveridge,
as supplied by the obliging candour of the
Baron von Blitzenberg and the notes of Dr
Escott, Dr Twiddel and his friend Robert
Welsh make a kind of explanatory entry.
They most effectually set the ball a-rolling,
and so the story starts in a small room looking
out on a very uninteresting London str<iet.

It was about three o'clock on a November
afternoon, that season of fogs and rains and
mud, when towns-people long for fresh air and
hillsides, and country-folk think wistfully of
the warmth and lights of a city, when nobody
IS satisfied, and everybody has a cold. Out-
side the window of the room there were a few

. • A

'-•V,

2 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

feet of earth adorned with a low bush or two,
a line of railings, a stone-paved street, and on
the other side a long row of uniform yellow
brick houses. The apartment itself was a
modest chamber, containing a minimum of
rented furniture and a flickering gas - stove.
By a small easeful of medical treatises and a
conspicuous stethoscope, the least experienced
could see that it was labelled consulting-room.

Dr Twiddel was enjoying one of those
moments of repose that occur even in the
youngest practitioner's existence. For the
purposes of this narrative he may briefly be
described as an amiable-looking young man,
with a little bit of fair moustache and still less
chin, no practice to speak of, and a consider-
able quantity of unpaid bills. A man of such
features and in such circum'itances invites
temptation. At the present moment, though
his waistcoat was unbuttoned and his feet
rested on the mantel-piece, his mind seemed
not quite at ease. He looked back upon a
number of fortunate events that had not
occurred, and forward to various unpleasant
things that might occur, and then he took a
letter from his pocket and read it abstractedly.

IHE LUNATIC A'l LAIU.E.

" I can't afford to refuse," he retlected, lugub-
riously ; ** and yet, hang it ! I must say I
don't fancy the job."

When metal is molten it can be poured into
any vessel ; and at that moment a certain deep
receptacle stood on the very doorstep.

The doctor heard the bell, sat up briskly,
stuffed the letter back into his pocket, and
buttoned his waistcoat.

*• A patient at last ! " and instantly there arose
a vision of a simple operation, a fabulous fee,
and twelve sickly millionaires an hour ever after.
The door opened, and a loud voice hailed him
familiarly.

" Only Welsh," he sighed, and the vision
went the way of all the others.

The gentleman who swaggered in and clapped
the doctor on the back, who next threw himself
into the easiest chair and his hat and coat over
the table, was in fact Mr Robert Welsh. From
the moment he entered he pervaded the room ;
the stethoscope seemed to grow less con-
^spicuous, Dr Twiddel's chin more diminutive,
the apartment itself a mere background to this
guest. Why ? It would be hard to say pre-
cisely. He was a black - moustached, full-

4 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

faced man, with an air of the most consummate
assurance, and a person by some deemed hand-
some Yet somehow or other he inevitably
recalled the uncles of history. Perhaps this
assurance alone gave him his atmosphere.
You could have felt his e<jotism in the dark.
He talked in a loud voice and with a great
air of mastery over all the contingencies of a
life about town. You felt that here sat one
who had seen the world and gave things their
proper proportions, who had learned how mere-
tricious was orthodoxy, and which bars could
really be recommended. He chaffed, patron-
ised, and cheered the doctor. Patients had
been scarce, had they ? Well, after all, there
were many consolations. Did Twiddel say he
was hard up ? Welsh himself in an even more
evil case. He narrated various unfortunate
transactions connected with the turf and other
pursuits, with regret, no doubt, and yet with a
fine rakish defiance of destiny. Twiddel's face
cleared, and he began to' show' something of the
same gallant spirit. He brought out a tall
bottle with a Celtic superscription ; Welsh half
filled his glass, poured in some water from a
dusty decanter, and proposed the toast of

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. J

" Luck to the two most deserving sinners in
London ! "

The doctor was fired, he drew the same
letter from his pocket, and cried, " By Jove,
Welsh, I'd almost for^^otten to tell you of a
lucky offer that came this morning."

rhis was not strictly true, for as a matter of
fact the doctor had only hesitated to tell of this
offer lest he should be shamed to a decision.
Hut Welsh was infectious.

" Congratulations, old man ! " said his friend.
"What's it all about .^"

' Here's a letter from an old friend of my
[jLople's — Dr Watson, by name. He has a
very good country practice, and he oiVers me
this job."

He handed the letter to Welsh, and theii
added, with a flutter ot caution, " I haven't
made up my mind yet. There are drawbacks,
as you'll see."

Welsh opened the letter and read : —

"Dear Twiddel, — I am happy to tell you
that I am at last able to put something in your
way. A gentleman in this neighbourhood,
one of my most esteemed patients, has lately

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

I '

suffered from a severe mental and physical
shock, followed by brain fever, and is still, I
regret to say, in an extremely unstable mental
condition. I have strongly recommended quiet
and change of scene, and at my sut^^gestion he
is to be sent abroad under the care of a medical
attendant. I have now much pleasure in offer-
ing you the post, if you would care to accept it.
You will find your patient, Mr Mandell-
Essington, an extremely agreeable young man
when in possession of his proper faculties.
He has large means and no near relatives ; he
comes of one of the best families in the county;
and though he has, I surmise, sown his wild
oats pretty freely, he was considered of unusual
promise previous to this unfortunate illness.
He is of an amiable and pleasant disposition,
though at present, we fear, inclined to suicidal
tendencies. I have no particular reason to
think he is at all homicidal ; still, you will see
that he naturally requires most careful watch-
ing. It is possible that you may hesitate to
leave your practice (which I trust prospers) ;
but as the responsibility is considerable, the
fee will be proportionately generous — ;^500,
and all expenses paid."

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. 7

('• Five hundred quid ! " exclaimed Welsh.)
" I would suggest a trip on the Continent.
The duration and the places to be visited will
be entirely at your discretion. It is of course
hardly necessary to say that you will seek quiet
localities. Trusting to hear from you at your
very earliest convenience, believe me, yours
sincerely, Timothy Watson."

Welsh looked at his friend with the respecl
that prosperity naturally excites. He smiled
on him as an equal, and cried, heartily,
'• Congratulations again ! When do you
start ? "

Twiddel fidgeted uncomfortabl3^ " I — er —
well, you see — ah — I haven't quite made up my
mind yet."

'' What's the matter ? "

' Hang it, Welsh — er — the fact is I don't
altogether like the job."

Scruples of any kind always surprised
Welsh.

'• Can't afford tc leave the practice ? " he
asked with a laugh.

" That's — ah — partly the reason," replied
Twiddel, uncomfortably.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" Rot, old man ! There's a girl in the
case. Out with it ! "

" No, it isn't that. You see it's the very
devil of a responsibility."

At this confession of weakness he looked
guiltily at his heroic friend. From the bottom
of his heart he wished he had screwed up
his courage in private. Welsh had so little
imagination.

" By Gad," exclaimed Welsh, "I'd manage
a nunnery for ;^5oo ! "

" I daresay you would, but a suicidal, and
possibly homicidal, lunatic isn't a nunnery."

Welsh looked at his friend with diminished
respect.

" Then you are going to chuck up ;^50o and
a free trip on the Continent ? " he said.

" Dr Watson himself admits the respon-
sibility."

** With a — what is it .'* — agreeable young
man ? "

" Only when in possession of his proper
faculties," said the doctor, dismally.

" And an amiable disposition ? "

" With suicidal tendencies, hang it ! "

*' I should have thought," said Welsh, with

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

a laugh, "that they would only matter to
himself."

•' But he is homicidal too — or at least it's
doubtful. I want to know a little more about
that, thank you ! "

" What is the man's name ? "

•* Mandell-Essington."

" Sounds aristocratic. He might come in
useful afterwards, when he's cured."

Welsh spoke with an air of reflection, which
might have been entirely disinterested.

" He'd probably commit suicide first," said
Twiddel, "and of course I'd get all the
blame."

"Or homicide," replied Welsh, "when he
would."

" No, he wouldn't— that's the worst of it ; I'd
be blamed for having my own throat cut."

"Twiddel," said his friend, deliberately, "it
seems to me you're a fool."

"I'm at least alive," cried Twiddel, warm-
ing with sympathy for himself, " which I
probpbly wouldn't be for long in Mr Essing-
ton's company."

" I don't blame your nerves, dear boy," said
Welsh, with a smile that showed all his teeth,

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

"only your head. Here are ^500 going a-

begging. There must be some way " He

paused, deep in reflection. ** How would it
do," he remarked in a minute, "if / were to
go in your place ? "

Twiddel laughed and shook his head.

" Couldn't be manaijed ? "

"Couldn't possibly, I'm afraid."

" No," said Welsh. " I foresee difficulties."

He fished a pipe out of his pocket, filled and
lit it, and leaned back in his chair gazing at
the ceiling.

" Twiddel, my boy," he said at length,
" will you give me a percentage of the fee
if I think of a safe dodge for getting the
money and preserving your throat?"

Twiddel laughed.

" Rather ! " he said.

" I am perfectly serious," replied Welsh,
keenly. " I'm certain the thing is quite
possible."

He half closed his eyes and ruminated in
silence. The doctor watched him — fascinated,
afraid. Somehow or other he felt that he was
already a kind of Guy Fawkes. There was
something so unlawful in Welsh's expression.

THK LUNATtC AT LARGE.

They sat there without speaking for about
ten minutes, and then all of a sudden Welsh
sprang up with a shout of laughter, slappinor
first his own leg and then the doctor's back.

" By Gad, I've got it ! " he cried. " I have

it!"

And he had ; hence this tale. .

PART I.

■r^"

CHAPTER I.

In a certain fertile and well -wooded county
of England there stands a high stone wall.
On a sunny day the eye of the traveller
passing through this province is gratified by
the sparkle of myriads of broken bottles
arranged closely and continuously along its
coping-stone. Above these shining facets
the boughs of tall trees swing in the wind
and throw their shadows across the highway.
The wall at last leaves the road and follows
the park round its entire extent. Its height
never varies; the broken bottles glitter per-
petually ; and only through two entrances,
and that when the gates are open, can one
gain a single glimpse inside : for the gates
are solid, with no chinks for the curious.

The country all round is undulating, and
here and there from the crest of an eminence
you can see a great space of well -timbered

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

park land within this wall ; and in winter,
when the leaves are off the trees, you may
spy an imposing red - orick mansion in the
midst.

Any native will inform you, with a mixture
of infectious awe and becoming pride, that this
is no less than the far-famed private asylum
of Clankwood.

This ideal institution bore the enviable repu-
tation of containing the best -bred lunatics in
England. It was credibly reported that how-
ever well marked their symptoms and however
well developed their delusions, none but ladies
and gentlemen of the most unblemished descent
were permitted to enjoy its seclusion. The
dances there were universally considered the
most agreeable functions in the county. The
conversation of many of the inmates was of the
widest range and the most refreshing originality,
and the demeanour of all, even when most free
from the conventional trammels of outside
society, bore evidence of an expensive, and in
some cases of a Christian, upbringing. This is
scarcely to be wondered at, when beneath one
roof were assembled the heirs -presumptive to
three dukedoms, two suicidal marquises, an

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

odd archbishop or so. and the flower of the
baronetage and clergy. As this list only
includes a few of the celebrities able or willing
to be introduced to distinguished visitors, and
makes no mention of the uncorroborated digni-
ties (such as th.2 classical divinities and Old
Testament duplicates), the anxiety shown by
some people to certify their relations can easily
bo understood.

Dr Congleton, the proprietor and physician
of Clankwood, was a gentleman singularly well
fitted to act as host on the occasion of asylum
reunions. No one could exceed him in the
respect he showed to a coroneted head, even
when cracked ; and a bishop under his charge
was always secured, as far as possible, fron^ the
-east whisper of heretical conversation. He
possessed besides a pleasant, rubicund counten-
ance and an immaculate wardrobe. He was
further fortunate in having in his assistants, Dr
Escott and Dr Sherlaw, two young gentlemen
whose medical knowledge was almost equal to
the affability of their manners and the excellence
of their family connections.

One November night these two were sitting
over a comfortable fire in Sherlaw's room.

THK LUNATIC AT LARGK.

Twelve o'clock struck, Kscott finished the
remains of something in a tumbler, rose, and
yawned sleepily,

" Time to turn in, younii^ man," said he.

" I suppose it is," replied Sherlaw, a very
pleasant and boyish young gentleman. " Hullo!
What's that ? A cab ? "

They both listened, and some way off they
could just pick out a sound like wheels upon
gravel.

" It's very late for any one to be coming in,"
said Escott.

The sound grew clearer and more unmistak-
ably like a cab rattling quickly up the drive.

*' It is a cab," said Sherlaw.

They heard it draw up before the front door,
and then there came a pause.

** Who the deuce can it be ? " muttered Escott.

In a few minutes there came a knock at the
door, and a servant entered.

" A new case, sir. Want's to see Dr Congle-
ton particular."

" A man or a woman ? "

" Man, sir."

" All right," growled Sherlaw. " I'll come,
confound him."

* ul

THE Lu'NMiC AF I.AK(iK.

" Bail luck, old mnn," laii.L^^lKcl Iiscott. " I'll
wait iK-rc in case by any chance; you wane mc."

He fell into his chair ai^^ain, lit a cigarette,
and sleepily turned over the pages of a book.
Dr Sherlaw was away for a little time, and
when he returned his cheerful face wore a some-
what mystified expression.

"Well?" asked Escott.

" Rather a rum case," said his colleague,
thoughtfully.

•• What's the matter ? "

•• Don't know."

"Who was it?"

•• Don't know that either."

Escott opened his eyes.

** What happened, then ? "

" Well," said Sherlaw, drawing his chair up
to the fire again, ** I'll tell you just what did
happen, and you can make what you can out of
it. Of course, I suppose it's all right, really,
but — well, the proceedings were a little un-
usual, don't you know.

'* I went down to the door, and there I found
a four-wheeler with a man standing beside it.
The door of the cab was shut, and there
seemed to be two more men inside. This

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

chap who'd got out — a youngish man — hailed
me at once as though he'd bought the whole
place.

'•'You Dr Congleton?'

'"Damn your impertinence!' I said to my-
self, ' ringing people up at this hour, and talk-
ing like a bally drill-sergeant.'

" I told him politely I wasn't old Congers,
but that I'd make a good enough substitute for
the likes of him.

" ' I tell you what it is,' said the Johnnie,
' I've brought a patient for Dr Congleton, a
cousin of mine, and I've got a doctor here, too.
I want to see Dr Congleton.'

'" He's probably in bed,' I said, 'but I'll do
just as well. ^ suppose he's certified, and all
that.'

"'Oh, it's all right,' said the man, rather as
though he expected me to say that it wasn't.
He looked a little doubtful what to do, and
then I heard some one inside the cab call him.
He stuck his head in the window and they con-
fabbed for a minute, and then he turned to me
and said, with the most magnificent air you
ever saw, like a chap buying a set of diamond
studs, * My friend here is a great ^^ersonal

THE LUNATIC AT LAKGE.

friend of Dr Con^leton, and it's a damned

I mean it's an uncommonly delicate matter.
We must see him.'

•"Well, if you insist, I'll see if I can get
him,' I said ; * but you'd better come in anil
wait.'

"So the Johnnie opened the door of the cab,
and there was a <ijreat haiiling and pushing, my
friend pulling an arm from the outside, and the
doctor shoving from within, and at last they
fetched out their patient. He was a tall man,
in a very smart-looking, long, light topcoat,
and a cap with a large peak shoved over his
eyes, and he seemed very unsteady on his pins.

" ' Drunk, by George ! ' I said to myself at
first.

" The doctor — another young-looking man —
hopped out after him, and they each took an
arm, lugged their patient into the waiting-
room, and popped him into an arm - chair.
There he collapsed, and sat with his head
hanging down as limp as a sucked orange.

" I asked them if anything was the matter
with him.

"'Only tired, — just a little sleepy,' said the
co.usin.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

"And do you know, Escott, what I'd stake
my best boots was the matter with him ? "

"What?"

" The man was drugged ! "

Escott looked at the fire thoughtfully.

"Well," he said, "it's quite possible; he
might have been too violent to manage."

" Why couldn't they have said so, then ? "

" H'm. Not knowing, can't say. What
happened next ? "

" Next thing was, I asked the doctor what
name I should give. He answered in a kind
of nervous way, ' No name ; you needn't give
any name. I know Dr Congleton personally.
Ask him to come, please.' So off I tooled, and
found old Congers just thinking of turning in.

" ' My clients are sometimes unnecessarily
discreet,' he remarked in his pompous way
when I told him about the arrival, and of
course he added his usual platitude about our
reputation for discretion.

" I went back with him to the waiting-room,
and just stood at the door long enough to see
him hail the doctor chap very cordially and be
introduced to the patient's cousin, and then I
came away. Rather rum, isn't it ? "

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

•' You've certainly made the best of the
yarn," said Escott with a laugh.

*• By George, if you'd been there you'd have
thought it funny too."

'• Well, good-night, I'm off. We'll probably
hear to-morrow what it's all about."

But in the morning there was little more
to be learned about the new-comer's history
and antecedents. Dr Congleton spoke of the
matter to the two young men, with the pom-
pous cough that signified extreme discretion.

" Brought by an old friend of mine," he said.
" A curious story, Escott, but quite intelligible.
There seem to be the best reasons for answer-
ing no questions about him ; you understand ? "

** Certainly, sir," said the two assistants, with
the more assurance as they had no information
to give.

" I am perfectly satisfied, mind you — per-
fectly satisfied," added their chief.

"By the way, sir," Sherlaw ventured to
remark, "hadn't they given him something in
the way of a sleeping-draught ? "

" Eh ? Indeed ? I hardly think so, Sher-
law, I hardly think so. Case of reaction en-
tirely. Good morning."

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

"Congleton seems satisfied," remarked Es-
cott.

"I'll tell you what," said the junior, pro-
foundly. '• Old Congers is a very good chap,
and all that, but he's not what I should call
extra sharp. / should feel uncommon sus-
picious."

"H'm," replied Escott. "As you say, our
worthy chief is not extra sharp. But that's
not our business, after all."

CHAPTER II.

•' By the way," said Escott, a couple of days
later, "how is your mysterious man getting
on ? I haven't seen him myself yet."

Sherlaw laughed.

"He's turning out a regular sportsman,
by George! For the first day he was
more or less in the same state in which he
arrived. Then he began to wake up and
ask questions. ' What the devil is this
place?' he said to me in the evening. It
may sound profane, but he was very polite,
I assure you. I told him, and he sort of
raised his eyebrows, smiled, and thanked me
like a Prime Minister acknowledging an obliga-
tion. Since then he has steadily developed
sporting, not to say frisky, tastes. He went
out this morning, and in five minutes had
his arm round one of the prettiest nurse's.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

I
I

waist. And she didn't seem to mind much
either, by George ! "

" He'll want a bit of looking after, I take
it."

"Seems to me he is uncommonly capable of
taking care of himself. The rest of the es-
tablishment will want looking after, though."

From this time forth the mysterious gentle-
man began to regularly take the air and to be
remarked, and having once remarked him,
people looked again.

Mr Francis Beveridge, for such it appeared
was his name, was distinguished even for
Clankwood. Though his antecedents were
involved in mystery, so much confidence was
placed in Dr Congleton's discrimination that
the unknown stranger was at once received on
the most friendly terms by every one ; and,
to tell the truth, it would have been hard to
repulse him for long. His manner was per-
fect, his conversation witty to the extremest
verge of propriety, and his clothes, fashionable
in cut and of unquestionable fit, bore on such
of the buttons as were made of metal the hall
mark of a leading London firm. He wore the
longest and most silky moustaches ever seen,

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

and beneath them a short well-tended beard
completed his resemblance — so the ladies de-
clared — to King Charles of unhappy memory.
The melancholic Mr Jones (quondam author
of ' Sunflowers — A Lyrical Medley ') declared,
indeed, that for Mr Beveridge shaving was
prohibited, and darkly whispered "suicidal,"
but his opinion was held of little account.

It was upon a morning about a week after
his arrival that Dr Escott, alone in the billiard-
room, saw him enter. Escott had by this time
made his acquaintance, and, like almost every-
body else, had already succumbed to the
fascination of his address.

•* Good morning, doctor," he said ; " I wish
you to do me a trifling favour, a mere bending
of your eyes."

Escott laughed.

" I shall be delighted. What is it ? "

Mr Beveridge unbuttoned his waistcoat and
displayed his shirt-front.

" I only want you to be good enough to read
the inscription written here."

The doctor bent down.

" • Francis Beveridge,' " he said. " That's all
I see."

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

"And that's all I see," said Mr Beverid^e.
" Now what can you read here ? I am not
troubling you ? "

He held out his handkerchief as he spoke.

" Not a bit," laughed the doctor, " but I only
see 'Francis Beveridge' here too, I'm afraid."

" Everything has got it," said Mr Beveridj^^^e,
shaking his head, it would be hard to say
whether humorously or sadly. " * Francis
Beveridge ' on everything. It follows, I sup-
pose, that I am Francis Beveridge ? "

" What else ? " asked Escott, who was much
amused.

'* That's just it. What else ? " said the other.
He smiled a peculiarly charming smile, thanked
the doctor with exaggerated gratitude, and
strolled out again.

" Hf; is a rum chap," reflected Escott.

And indeed in the outside world he might
safely have been termed rather rum, but here in
this backwater, so full of the oddest flotsam, his
waywardness was rather less than the average.
He had, for instance, a diverting habit of modi-
fying the time, and even the tune, of the hymns
on Sunday, and he confessed to having kissed
all the nurses and, housemaids except three.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

and

:ht

nis

di-
ns
id
te.

But both Escott and Sherlaw declared they
had never met a more congenial spirit. Mr
Beveridge's game of billiards was quite remark-
able even for Clankwood, where the enforced
leisure of many of the noblemen and gentlemen
had made them highly proficient on the spot ;
he showed every promise, on his rare oppor-
tunities, of being an unusually entertaining small
hour, whisky-and-soda raconteur; in fact, he
was evidently a man whose previous career,
whatever it might have been (and his own
statements merely served to increase the
mystery round this point), had led him
through many humorous byepaths, and left
him with few restrictive prejudices.

November became December, and to all
appearances he had settled down in his new
residence with complete resignation, when that
unknowable factor that upsets so many calcula-
tions came upon the scene, — the factor, I mean,
that wears a petticoat.

Mr Beveridge strolled into Escott's room
one morning to find the doctor inspecting a
mixed assortment of white kid gloves.

" Do these mean past or future conquests ? "
he asked with his smile.

THli LUNAriC AT LARGE.

\y ;i

*' Both," laughed the doctor. •* I'm trying to
pick out a clean pair for the dance to-night."

" You go a-dancing, then ? "

" Don't you know it's our own monthly ball
here ? "

"Of course," said Mr Beveridge, passing his
hand quickly across his brow. " I must have
heard, but things pass so quickly through my
head nowadays."

He laughed a little conventional laugh, and
gazed at the gloves.

" You are coming, of course ?" said Escott.

" If you can lend me a pair of these. Can
you spare one ? "

" Help yourself," replied the doctor.

Mr Beveridge selected a pair with a care of
a man who is particular in such matters, put
them in his pocket, thanked the doctor, and
went out.

" Hope he doesn't play the fool," thought
Escott.

Invitations to the balls at Clankwood were
naturally in great demand throughout the
county, for nowhere were noblemen so
numerous and divinities so tangible. Car-
riages and pairs rolled up one after another,

€^^

THE LUNATIC AT LAKGK.

rht

the mansion glittered with lights, the strains
of the band could be heard loud and stirring or
low and faintly all through the house.

" Who is that man dancing opposite my
daughter ? " asked the Countess of Grillyer.

" A Mr Beveridge," replied Dr Congleton.

Mr Beveridge, in fact, the mark of all eyes,
was dancing in a set of lancers. The couple
opposite to him consisted of a stout elderly
gentleman who, doubtless for the best reasons,
styled himself the Emperor of the two
Americas, and a charming little pink and
flaxen partner — the Lady Alicia k Fyre, as
everybody who was anybody could have told
you. The handsome stranger moved, as might
be expected, with his accustomed grace and air
of distinction, and, probably to convince his
admirers that there was nothin;^ meretricious in
his performance, he carried his hands in his
pockets the whole time. This certainly caused
a little inconvenience to his partner, but to be
characteristic in Clankwood one had to step
very far out of the beaten track.

For two figures the Emperor snorted dis-
approval, but at the end of the third, when Mr
Beveridge had been skipping round the out-

THE LUNA lie Al LAiaiK.

skirts of the set, his hands still thrust out of
sight, somewhat to the derangement of the
customary procedure, he could contain himself
no longer.

"Hey, young man!" he asked in his most
stentorian voice, as the music ceased, " are you
afraid of having your pockets picked ? "

"Alas!" replied Mr r>everidge, "it would
take two men to do that."

" Huh !" snorted the Emperor, "you are so
d — d strong, are you ? "

*• I mean," answered his vis-d-vt's with his
polite smile, " that it would take one man to put
something in and another to take it out."

This remark not only turned the laugh
entirely on Mr Beveridge's side, but it intro
duced the upsetting factor.

CHAPTER III.

tro

Till': Lad)' Alicia a Fyre, thou^^h of the outer
everyday vrorld herself, had, in common with
most families of any pretensions to ancient
dignity, a creditable sprinkling of uncles and
cousins domiciled in Clankwood, and so she
frequently attended these dances.

To-night her eye had been caught by a
tall, graceful figure executing a pas seul in
the middle of the room with its hands in
its pockets. The face of this gentleman was
so composed and handsome, and he seemed
so oblivious to the presence of everybody else,
that her interest was immediately excited.
During the set of lancers in which he was her
visd-vis she watched him furtively with a
growing feeling of admiration. She had never
heard him say a word, and it was with a sen-
sation of the liveliest interest that she listened
to his brief passage with her partner. At his

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

final retort her tender heart was overcome with
pity. He was poor, then, or at least he was
allowed the use of no money. And all of him
that was outside his pockets seemed so sane
and so gentlemanly ; it seemed a pity to let
him lack a little sympathy.

The Lady Alicia might be described as
a becoming frock stuffed with sentiment.
Through a pair of large blue eyes she drank
in romance, and with the reddest and most
undecided of lips she felt a vague desire to
kiss something. At the end of the dance she
managed by a series of little manoeuvres to
find herself standing close to his elbcvv. She
sighed twice, but he still seemed absorbed in
lilrs thoughts. Then with a heroic eftbrt she
summoned up her courage, and said in a low
and rather shaky voice. •* You — you — you are
unha — appy."

Mr Beveridge turned and looked down on
her with great interest. Her eyes met his for
a moment and straightway sought the floor.
Thus she saw nothing of a smile that came
and went like the shadow of a puff of smoke.
He took his hands out of his pockets, folded
his arms, and, with an air of the deepest de-

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

jection, sighed heavily. She took courage and
looked up again, and then, as he only gazed
into space in the most romantically melancholy
fashion and made no answer, she asked again
very timidly, '* Wh — what is the matter ? "

Without saying a word Mr Beveridge bent
courteously and offered her his right arm. She
took it with the mcst delicious trepidation,
glancing round hurriedly to see whether the
Countess noticed her. Another dance was
just beginning, and in the general movement
her mysterious acquaintance led her without
observation to a seat in the window of a cor-
ridor. There he pressed her hand gently,
stroked his long moustaches for a minute, and
then said, with an air of reflection, ** There
are three ways of making a woman like one.
I am slightly out of practice. Would you be
kind enough to suggest a method of pro-
cedure .•* "

Such a beginning was so wholly unexpected
that Lady Alicia could only give a little gasp
of consternation. Her companion, after paus-
ing an instant for a reply, went on in the same
tone, " 1 am aware that I have begun well.
1 attracted your attention, I elicited your

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

sympathy, and I pressed your hand ; but for
the life of me I can't remember what I gener-
ally do next."

Poor Lady Alicia, who had come with a
bucketful of sympathy ready to be gulped down
by this unfortunate gentleman, was only able to
stammer, ** I — I really don't know, Mr "

'* Hamilton," said Mr Beveridge, unblush-
ingly. *• At least that name belongs to me as
much as anything can be said to in a world
where my creditors claim my money and Dr
Congleton my person."

"You are confined and poor, you mean.'*"
asked Lady Alicia, beginning to see her way
aofain.

'• Poor and confined, to put them in their
proper order, for if I had the wherewithal to
purchase a balloon I should certainly cease to
be confined."

His admirer found it hard to reply ade-
quately to this, and Mr Beveridge cont* lued,
" To return to the delicate subject from which
we strayed, what would you like me to do,
— put my arm round your waist, relate my
troubles, or turn my back on you?"

" Are — are those the three ways you spoke

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

le-

of — to make women like you, I mean ? " Lady
Alicia ventured to ask, though she was be-
ginning to wish the sofa was larger.

" They are examples of the three classical
methods : cuddling, humbugging, and piquing.
Which do you prefer ? "

" Tell me about your — your troubles," she
answered, gaining courage a little.

*' You belong to the sex which makes no
mention of figs and spades," he rejoined ; *' but
I understand you to mean that you pefer
humbuggin;^."

He drew a long face, sighed twice, and
looking tenderly into Lady Alicia's blue eyes,
began in a gentle, reminiscent voice, " My
boyhood was troubled and unhappy : no kind
words, no caresses. I was beaten by a cruel
stepfather, ignored and insulted for my physical
deformities by a heartless stepmothe*."

He stopped to sigh again, and Lady Alicia,
with a boldness that surprised herself, and a
perspicacity that would have surprised her
friends, asked, "How could they — I mean,
were they doif/i step ? "

" Several steps," he replied ; *' in fact, quite
a long journey."

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

With this explanation Lady Alicia was forced
to remain satisfied ; but as he had paused a
second time, and seemed to be immersed in
the study of his shoes, she inquired again,
" You spoke of physical infirmities ; do you
mean ? "

" Deformities," he corrected ; ** up to the age
of fourteen years I could only walk sideways,
and my hair parted in the middle."

He spoke so seriously that these unusual
maladies seemed to her the most touching
misfortunes she had ever heard of. She mur-
mured gently, " Yes ? "

" As the years advanced," Mr Beveridge
continued, " and I became more nearly the
same weight as my stepfather, my life grew
happier. It was decided to send me to college,
so I was provided with an insufficient cheque,
a complete set of plated forks, and three bath-
towels, and despatched to the University of
Oxford. At least I think that was the name
of the corporation which took my money and
endeavoured to restrict my habits, though, to
confess the truth, my memory is not what it
used to be. There I learned wisdom by the
practice of lolly- the most amusing and effec-

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

ac-

tive method. My tutor used to tell me I had
some originality. I apologised for its presence
in such a respectable institution, and undertook
to pass an examination instead. I believe I
succeeded : I certainly remember giving a
dinner to celebrate something. Thereupon at
my own expense the University inflicted a
degree upon me, but I was shortly afterwards
compensated by the death of my uncle and my
accession to his estates. Having enjoyed a
university education, and accordingly possess-
ing a corrected and regulated sentiment, I was
naturally inconsolable at the decease of this
venerable relative, who for so long had shown
a kindly interest in the poor orphan lad."

He stopped to sigh again, and Lady Alicia
asked with great interest, ** But your step-
parents, you always had them, hadn't you ? "

" Never ! " he replied, sadly.

" Never ? " she exclaimed in some bewilder-
ment.

" Certainly not often," he answered, " and
oftener than not, never. If you had told me
beforehand you wished to hear my history, I
should have pruned my family tree into a more
presentable shape. But if you will kindly tell

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

■;li

ine as I go aloni^ which of my relatives you
disapprove of, and who you would like to be
introduced, I shall arrange the plot to suit you."

•* I only wish to hear the true story, Mr
Hamilton."

" Fortescue," he corrected. *• I certainly
prefer to be called by one name at a time, but
never by the same twice running."

He smiled so agreeably as he said this that
Lady Alicia, though puzzled and a little hurt,
could not refrain from smiling back.

** Let me hear the rest," she said.

" It is no truer than the first part, but quite
as entertaining. So, if you like, I shall en-
deavour to recall the series of painful episodes
that brought me to Clank wood," he answered,
very seriously.

Lady Alicia settled herself comfortably into
one corner of the sofa and prepared to feel
affected. But at that moment the portly form
of Dr Congleton appeared from the direction
of the ballroom with a still more portly dowager
on his arm.

"My mother ! " exclaimed Lady Alicia, rising
quickly to her feet.

'•Indeed."*" said Mr Beveridge, who still

THE LUiNAllC AT LAKGK.

kept his seat. •♦She certainly looks handsome
enough."

This speech made Lady Alicia blush very
becomingly, and the Countess looked at her
sharply.

"Where have you been, Alicia?"
"The room was rather warm, mamma,
and "

" In short, madam," interrupted Mr Beve-
ridge, rising and bowing, " your charming
daughter wished to study a lunatic at close
quarters. I am mad. and I obligingly raved.

Thus " He ran one hand through his hair

so as to make it fall over his eyes, blew out his
cheeks, and uttering a yell, sprang high into
the air, and descended in a sitting posture on
the floor.

"That, madam, is a very common symptom,'
he explained, with a smile, smoothing down his
hair again, "as our friend Dr Congleton will
tell vou."

Both the doctor and the Countess were too
astonished to make any reply, so he turned
again to Lady Alicia, and offering his arm.
said, "Let me lead you back to our fellow-
fools." ,

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

** Is he safe ?" whispered the Countess.

" I — 1 believe so," replied Dr Congleton in
some confusion ; " but I shall have him watched
more carefully."

As they entered the room Mr Beveridge
whispered, *' Will you meet a poor lunatic
again ? " And the Lady Alicia pressed his
arm.

CHAPTER IV.

On the mornino; after the dance Dr Congleton
sumnioned Dr Escott to his room.

" Escott," he began, " we must keep a little
sharper eye on Mr Beveridge."

•* Indeed, sir ? " said Escott ; " he seems to
me harmless enough."

•• Nevertheless, he must be watched. Lady
Grillyer was considerably alarmed by his con-
duct last night, and a client who has confided
so many of her relatives to my care must be
treated with the greatest regard. I receive
pheasants at Christmas from no fewer than
fourteen families of title, and my reputation
for discretion is too \aluable to be risked.
When Mr Beveridge is not under your own
eyes you must see that Moggridge always
keeps him in sight."

Accordingly Moggridge, a burly and sea-
soned attendant on refractory patients, was told

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

t
1

off to keep an unobtrusivtt <;ye on that accom-
plished gentleman. His (hities appeared light
enough, for, as I have said, Mr Beveridge's
eccentricities had hitherto been merely of the
most playful nature.

After luncheon on this same day he gave
Escott twelve breaks and a beating at billiards,
and then having borrowed and approved of one
of his cigars, he strolled into the park. If he
intended to escape observation, he certainly
showed the most skilful strategy, for he dodged
deviously through the largest trees, and at last,
after a roundabout ramble, struck a sheltered
walk that ran underneath the high, glass-
decked outer wall. It was a sunny winter
afternoon. The boughs were stripped, and the
leaves lay littered on the walk or flickered
and stirred through the grass. In this spot the
high trees stood so close and the bare branches
were so thick that there was still an air of quiet
and seclusion where he paced and smoked.
Every now and then he stopped and listened
and looked at his watch, and as he walked
backwards and forwards an amused smile would
come and go.

All at once he heard something move on the

'IHE LUNATIC Al LAKGE.

far side of the wall : he paused to make sure,
and then he whistled. The sounds outside
ceased, and in a moment somethinsf fell softly
behind him. He turned quickly and snatched
up a little buttonhole ot flowers with a still
smaller note tied to tiie stems.

*' An uncommonly happy idea," he said to
himself, looking at the missive with the air
of one versed in these matters. Then he
leisurely proceeded to unfold and read the
note.

" To my friend," he read, " if I may call you
a friend since I have known you only such a
short time — ma) I ? This is just to express
my sympathy, and althou^^h I cannot express it
well, still perhaps you will forgive my feeble
effort ! ! "

At this point, just as he was regarding the
double mark of exclamation with reminiscent
entertainment, a plaintive voice from the other
side of the wall cried in a stage whisper,
" Have you got it ? "

Mr Beveridge composed his face, and heav-
ing his shoulders to his ears in the effort, gave
vent to a prodigious sigh.

" A million thanks, my fairest and kindest

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

of friends," he answered in the same tone. " I
read it now : I drink it in, I "

He kissed the back of his hand loudly two
or three times, sighed again, and continued his
reading.

** I wish I could help you," it ran, "but I am
afraid I cannot, as the world is so censorious, is
it not ? So you must accept a friend's sym-
pathy if it does not seem to you too bold and
forward of her ! ! ! Perhaps we may meet again,
as I sometimes go to Clankwood. Au revoir.
— Your sympathetic well-wisher. A. A F."

He folded it up and put it in his waistcoat-
pocket, then he exclaimed in audible aside,
his voice shaking with the mc effecting thrill,
'* Perhaps we may meet again ! OvAy perhaps I
O Alicia ! " And then dropping again into a
stage whisper, he asked, ** Are you still there,
Lady Alicia.?"

A timorous voice replied, " Yes, Mr For-
tescue. But I really ;;/««?/ go now!"

" Now ? So soon ? "

" I have stayed too long already."

"'Tis better to have stayed too long than
never to wear stays at all," replied Mr Beveridge.

There was no response for a moment. Then

THli LUNATIC AT LARGE.

a low voice, a little hurt and a good deal
[)uzzled, asked with evident hesitation. *• What
— what did you say, Mr Fortescue ? "

'• I said that Lady Alicia's stay cannot be
too long," he answered, softly.

'• But — but what good can I be ?"

•' The good you cannot help being."

There was another moment's pause, then the
voice whispered, " I don't quite understand you."

"My Alicia understands me not!" Mr
Beveridge soliloquised in another audible
aside. Aloud, or rather in a little lower tone,
he answered, ** I am friendless, poor, and im-
prisoned. What is the good in your staying ?
Ah, Lady Alicia ! But why should I detain
you ? Go, fair friend ! Go. and forget poor
Francis Beveridge ! "

There came a soft, surprised answer,
'• Francis Beveridge ? "

" Alas ! you have guessed my secret. Yes,
that is the name of the unhappiest of mortals."

As he spoke these melancholy words he
threw away the stump of his cigar, took
another from his case, and bit off the end.

The voice replied. ** I shall remember it —
among my friends."

ii I'

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

Mr Be vendue struck a match.

•' H'sh ! Whatever is that ? " cried the voice
in alarm.

" A heart breaking," he replied, lighting his
cigar.

" Don't talk like that," said the voice. ** It
— it distresses me." There was a break in the
voice.

" And, alas ! between distress and consolation
there are fifteen perpendicular feet of stone
and mortar and the relics of twelve hundred
bottles of Bass," he replied.

** Perhaps," — the voice hesitated — " perhaps
we may see each other some day."

"Say to-morrow at four o'clock," he sug-
gested, pertinently. ** If you could manage
to be passing up the drive at that hour."

There was another pause.

'* Perhaps " the voice began.

At that moment he heard the sharp crack
of a branch behind him, and turning instantly
he spied the uncompromising countenance of
Moggridge peering round a tree about twenty
paces distant. Lack of presence of mind and
quick decision were not amongst Mr Beveridge's
failings. He struck a theatrical attitude at

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

his

5 of

once, and began in a loud voice, gazing up at
the tops of the trees, "He comes ! A stranger
comes! Yes, my fair friend, we may meet
again. Au revoir, but only for a while ! Ah,
that a breaking heart should be lit for a
moment and then the lamp be put out ! "

Meanwhile Moggridge was walking towards
him.

" Ha, Moggridge ! " he cried. " Good
day."

"Time you was goin' in, sir," said Mogg-
ridge, stolidly ; and to himself he muttered,
" He's crackeder than I thought, a-shoutin*
and a-ravin' to hisself Just as well I kept a
heye on 'im."

Like most clever people, Mr Beveridge
generally followed the line of least resistance.
He slipped his arm through his attendant's,
shouted a farewell apparently to some imagin-
ary divinity overhead, and turned towards the
house.

" This is an unexpected pleasure," he re-
marked.

" Yes, sir," replied Moggridge.

*• Funny thing your turning up. Out for a
walk, I suppose 1 "

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" For a stroll, sir — that's to say ** he

stopped.

" That on these chilly afternoons the dear
good doctor is afraid of my health ? "

'• That's kind o' it, sir."

** But of course I'm not supposed to notice
anything, eh ? "

Moggridge looked a trifle uncomfortable
and was discreetly silent. Mr Bcveridge
smiled at his own perspicacity, and then be-
gan in the most friendly tone, *' Well, I feel
flattered that so stout a man has been told off
to take care of me. What an arm you've got,
man."

" Pretty fair, sir," said Moggridge, compla-
cently.

" And I am thankful, too," continued Mr
Beveridge, ** that you'i'e a man of some sense.
There are a lot of fools in the world, Mogg-
ridge, and I'm somewhat of an epicure in the
matter of heads.''

" Mine 'as been considered pretty sharp,"
Moggridge admitted, with a gratified relax-
ation of his wooden countenai ce.

*' Have a cigar ? " his patient asked, taking
out his case.

THE LUNATIC A I LARGE.

"Thank you, sir, I don't mind if I do."

'• You will find it a capital smoke. I don't
throw them away on every one."

Moggridue, completely thawed, lit his cigar
and slackened his pace, for such frank apprecia-
tion of his merits was rare in a critical world.

•' You can perhaps believe, Mogirridge," said

Mr Beveridge, reflectively, "that' one doesn't

olien have the chance of talking confidential!)

to a man of sense in Clank wood."

" No, sir, 1 should himagine not."

"And so one has sometimes to talk to
oneself."

This was said so sadly that Moggridge be-
gan to feel uncomfortably affected.

" Ah, Moggridge, one cannot always keep
silence, even when one least wants to be
overheard. Have you ever been in love,
Moggridge .'* "

The burly keeper changed coun.enance a
litde at this embarrassingly direct question, and
answered diffide-Jy, - Well, sir, to be sure
men is men and woming will be woming."

"The deuce, they will!" replied Mr Bev-
eridge, cordially; "and it's rather hard to for-
get 'em, eii ? "

: 11

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" H indeed it is, sir."

" I remembered this afternoon, but I should
like you as a good chap to forget. You won't
mention my moment of weakness, Moggridge ? "

" No, sir," said Moggridge, stoutly. '* I sup-
pose I hought to report what I sees, but I
won't this time."

" Thank you," said Mr Beveridge, pressing
his arm. *' I had, you know, a touch of the
sun in India, and I sometimes talk when I
shouldn't. Though, after all, that isn't a very
uncommon complaint."

And so it happened that no rumour preju-
dicial either to his sanity or to the progress of
his friendship with the Lady Alicia reached
the ears of the authorities.

CHAPTER V.

Towards four o'clock on the following after-
noon Mr Beveridge and Moggridge were walk-
ing leisurely down the long drive leading from
the mansion of Clankwood to the gate that
opened on the humdrum outer world. Finding
that an inelastic matter of yards was all the
tether he could hope for, Mr Beveridge thought
it best to take the bull by the horns, and make
a companion of this necessity. So he kept his
attendant by his side, ana regaled him for some
time with a series of improbable reminiscences
and tolerable cigars, till at last, round a bend
of the avenue, a lady on horseback came into
view. As she drew a little nearer he stopped
with an air of great surprise and pleasure.

" I believe, Moggridge, that must be Lady
Alicia a Fyre ! " he exclaimed.

" It looks huncommon like her, sir," replied
Moggridge.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" I must really speak to her. She was " —
and Mr Beveridj^e assumed his inimitable air
of manly sentiment — " she was one of my
poor mother's dearest friends. Do you mind,
Moj^gridge, falling behind a little."* In fact, if
you could step behind a tree and wait here for
me, it would be pleasanter for us both. We
used to meet under happier circumstances, and,
don't you know, it might distress her to be
reminded of my misfortunes."

Such a reasonable request, beseechingly put
by so fine a gentleman, could scarcely be
refused. Mo^^i^ridiife retired behind the trees
that lined the avenue, and Mr Beveridge
advanced alone to meet the Lady Alicia.
She blushed very becomingly as he raised
his hat.

"I hardly expected to see you tc-day, Mr
Beveridge," she began.

** I on the other hand, have been thinking
of nothing else," he replied.

She blushed still deeper, but responded a
little reprovingly, " It's very polite of vou to
say so, but "

"Not a bit," said he. "I have a dozen
iqually well-turned sentences at my disposal,

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

and, they tell me, a most deluding way of
saying them."

Suddenly out of her depth again, poor Lady
Alicia could only strike out at random.

•' Who tell you t " she managed to say.

" First, so far as my poor memory goes, my
mother's lady's-maid informed me of the fact ;
then I think my sister's governess," he replied,
ticking off his informants on his fingers with a
half-abstracted air. ♦• After that came a num-
ber of more or less reliable individuals, and
lastly the Lady Alicia k Fyre."

" Me ? I'm sure I never said "

"None of them ever sate/;' he inter-
rupted.

" But what have I done, then ? " she asked,
tightening her reins, and making her horse
fidget a foot or two farther away.

"You have begun to be a most adorable
friend to a most unfortunate man."

Still Lady Alicia looked at him a little
dubiously, and only said, " I — I hope I'm not
too friendly."

"There are no degrees in friendly," he
replied. "There are only aloofly, friendly,
and more than friendly."

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

"I — I think I ought to be going on, Mr
Beveridge."

That experienced diplomatist perceived that
it was necessary to further embellish him-
self^

" Are you fond of soldiers ? " he asked,
abruptly.

" I beg your pardon ? " she said in consider-
able bewilderment.

" Does a red coat, a medal, and a brass band
appeal to you ? Are you apt to be interested
in her Majesty's army .** "

" I generally like soldiers," she admitted,
still much surprised at the turn the conversa-
tion had taken.

** Then I was a soldier."

" But— really ? "

" I held a commission in one of the crackest
cavalry regiments," he began dramatically, and
yet with a great air of sincerity. '* I was con-
sidered one of the most promising officers in
the mess. It nearly broke my heart to leave
the service."

He turned away his head. Lady Alicia was
visibly affected.

" I am so sorry ! " she murmured.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

Still keeping his face turned away, he held
out his hand and she pressed it gently.

"Sorrow cannot give me my freedom," he
said.

" If there is anything I can do " she

began.

••Dismount," he s^Jd, looking up at her
tenderly.

Lady Alicia never quite knew how it hap-
pened, but certainly she found herself standin<r
on the ground, and the next moment Mr
Beveridge was in her place.

•• An old soldier," he exclaimed, gaily ; " I
can't resist the temptation of having a canter."
And with that he started at a gallop towards
the gate.

With a blasphemous ejaculation Moggridge
sprang from behind his tree, and set off down
the drive in hot pursuit.

Lady Alicia screamed, " Stop ! stop ! Francis
— I mean, Mr Beveridge; stop, please!"

But the favourite of the crack regiment,
Jespite the lady's saddle, sat his steed well,
and rapidly left cries and footsteps far behind.
The lodge was nearly half a mile away, and
as the avenue wound between palisades of old

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

) 1

trees, the shouts became muffled, and when he
looked over his shoulder he saw in the stretch
behind him no si}^n of benefactress or pursuer.
By continued exhortations and the point of his
penknife he kept his horse at full stretch ;
round the next bend he knew he should see
the gates.

" Five to one on the blank things being
shut," he muttered.

He swept round the curve, and there ahead
of him he saw the gates grimly closed, and at
the lodge door a dismounted groom, standing
beside his horse.

Only remarking '* Damn ! " he reined up,
turned, and trotted quietly back again. Pres-
ently he met Moggridge, red in the face,
muddy as to his trousers, and panting hard.

" Nice little nag this, Moggridge," he re-
marked, airily.

"Nice sweat you've give me," rejoined his
attendant, wrathfully.

" You don't mean to say you ran after me ? "

** I does mean to say," Moggridge replied,
grimly, seizing the reins.

'* Want to lead him ? Very well — it makes
us look quite like the Derby winner coming in."

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

*• Derby loser you means, thanks to them
gates bein' shut."

" Gates shut ? Were they r 1 didn't hap-
pen to notice."

" No, o' course not." said Moggridge, sar-
castically ; "that there sunstroke you got in
India prevented you, I suppose."*"

••

Have

a cigar

To this overture Moggridge made no reply.
Mr Beveridge laughed and continued lightly,
'• I had no idea you were so fond of exercise.
I'd have given you a lead all round the park
if I'd known."

" You'd 'ave given me a lead all round the
county if them gates 'ad been open."

"It might have been difficult to stop this
fiery animal," Mr Beveridge admitted. ** But
now, Moggridge, the run is over. I think I
can take Lady Alicia's horse back to her
myself."

Moggridge smiled grimly.

" You won't let go ? "

•• No fears."

Mr Beveridge put his hand behind his back
and silently drove the penknife a quarter of an
inch into his mount's hind quarters. In an

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

instant his keeper felt himself being lifted
nearly off his feet, and in another actually de-
posited on his face. Off went the accomplished
horseman again at top speed, but this time back
to Lady Alicia. He saw her standing by the
side of the drive, her handkerchief to her eyes,
a penitent and disconsolate little figure. When
she heard him coming, she dried her eyes and
looked up, but her face was still tearful.

" Well, I am back from my ride," he re-
marked in a perfectly usual voice, dismounting
as he spoke.

" The man ! " she cried, " where is that dread-
ful man.?"

'• What man .•* " he asked in some surprise.

" The man who chased you."

Mr Beveridge laughed aloud, at which Lady
Alicia took fresh refuge in her handkerchief.

•' He foliows on foot," he replied.

" Did he catch you ? Oh, why didn't you
escape altogether ? " she sobbed.

Mr Beveridge looked at her with growing
interest.

" I had begun to forget my petticoat psy-
chology," he reflected (aloud, after his uncon-
ventional fashion).

I i

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

•• Oh, here >e comes," she shuddered. " All
blood! Oh, what have you done to him ?*'

•'On my honour, nothing, — I merely haven't
washed his face."

By this time Moggridge was coming close
upon them.

•' You won't forget a poor soldier ? " said Mr
Beveridge in a lower voice.

There was vo reply.

"A /foor soldier," he added, with a sigh,
glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
"So poor that even if I had got out, I could
only have ridden till I dropped."

•* Would you accept ?" she began, timidly.

" What day ? " he interrupted, hurriedly.

" Tuesday," she hesitated.

*' Four o'clock, again. Same place as before.
When I whistle throw it over at once."

Before they had time to say more, Mogg-
ridge, blood- and gravel-stained, came up.

'• It's all right, miss," he said, coming be-
tween them ; " I'll see that he plays no more
of 'is tricks. There's nothin' to be afrightened
of."

" Stand back ! " she cried ; ** don't come near
me!"

THE LUNAIIC AT LARGE.

ill

Mogi^ridore was too staggered at this out-
burst to say a word.

" Stand away ! " she said, and the bewildered
attendant stood away. She turned to Mr
Beveridge.

•• Now, will you help me up ?"

She mounted lightly, said a brief farewell,
and, forgetting all about the call at Clankwood
she had ostensibly come to pay, turned her
horse's head towards the lodge.

"Well, I'm blowed ! " said Moggridge.

'* They do blow one," his patient assented.

Naturally enough the story of this equestrian
adventure soon ran through Clankwood. The
exact particulars, however, were a little hard to
collect, for while Moggridge supplied many
minute and picturesque details, illustrating his
own activity and presence f mind and the
imminent peril of the Lady Alicia, Mr Beve-
ridge recounted an equally vivid story of a
runaway horse recovered by himself to its fair
owner's unbounded gratitude. ( )ft'icial opinion
naturally acc^.pted the official account, and for
the next few days Mr Beveridge became an
object of considerable anxiety and mistrust.

•' 1 can't make the man out," said Sherlaw to

THE LUNATiC AT LAKGE.

ler

Escott. " I had beoun to think there was
nothing much the matter with him."

" No more there is," replied Escott. " His
memory seems to me to have suffered from
something, and he simply supplies its place in
conversation from his imagination, and in action
from the inspiration of the moment. The
methods of society are too orthodox for such
an aberration, and as his friends doubtless pay
a handsome fee to keep him here, old Congers
labels hiri mad and locks the door on him."

A day or two afterwards official opinion was
a little disturbed. Lady Alicia, in reply to
anxious inquiries, gave a third version of the
adventure, from which nothing in particular
could be gathered except tiiat nothing in par-
ticular had happened.

•' What do you make of this, Escott ? "
asked Dr Congleton, laying her note belure
his assistant.

•• Merely that a woman wrote it."
" Hum ! I suppose that is the explanation."
Upon which the doctor looked profound and
went to lunch.

CHAPTER VI.

"Two five-pound notes, half-a sovereign, and
seven and sixpence in silver," said Mr Bevcridge
to himself. "Ah, and a card."

On the card was written, *' From a friend, if
you will accept it. A."

He was standing under the wall, in the
secluded walk, holding a little lady's purse in his
hand, and listening to two different footsteps.
One little pair of feet were hurrying away on
the farther side of the high wall, another and
larger were approaching him at a run.

•• Wot's he bin up to now, I wonder," Mogg-
ridge panted to himself — for the second pair of
feet belonged to him. "Shamming nose-bleed
and sending me in for an andkerchief, and
then sneaking off here by 'isself!"

•' What a time you've been," said Mr Beve-
ridge, slipping the purse with its contents into

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

his pocket. " I was so infernally cold I had to
take a little walk. Got the handkerchief ? "

In silence and with a suspicious solemnity
Moo^gridge handed him the handkerchief, and
they turned back for the house.

** Now for a balloon," Mr Bevepdge reflected.

Certainly it was cold. The frost nipped
sharp that night, and next morni?\g there were
ice gardens on the windows, and the park lay
white all through the winter sunshine.

By evening the private lake was reported to
be bearing, and the next day it hammed under
the first skaters. Hardly necessary to say
Mr Beveridge was among the earliest of them,
or that he was at once the object of general
admiration and envy. He traced " vines " and
" Q's," and performed wonderful feats on one
leg all morning. At lunch he was in the best
of spirits, and was off again at once to the
ice*

When he reached the lake in the afternoon
the first person he spied was Lady Alicia, and
five minutes afterwards they were sailing off
together hand in hand.

'* I knew you would come to-day," he re-
marked.

§$

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" How cou/d you have known ? It was by
the merest chance I happened to come."

"It has always been by the merest chance
that any of them have ever come."

"Who have ever come ?" she inquired, with
a vagva feelin<j^ that he had said something he
ought not to have, and that she was doing the
same.

" Many things," he smiled, " inchiding purses.
Which reminds me that I am eternally your
debtor."

She blushed and said, " I hope you didn't
mind."

" Not much," he answered, candidly. " In
my present circumstances a five-pound note is
more acceptable than a caress."

The Lady Alicia again remembered the maid-
enly proprieties, and tried to change the subject.

" What beautiful ice ! " she said.

" The question now is," he continued, paying
no heed to this diversion, " what am I to do
next ? "

" What do you mean ? " she asked a little
faintly, realising dimly that she was being
regarded as a fellow -conspirator in some un-
lawful project.

I
I

THE LUNAIIC AT LARGE.

" The wall is high, there is bottle-glass on
the top, and I shall find it hard to bring away
a fresh pair of trousers, and probably draughty
if I don't. The gates are always kept closed,
and it isn't worth any one's while to open
them for ^10, 17s. 6d.. less the price of a
first -clr.ss ticket up to town. What are wr
to do?"

**We.^" she gasped.

'• You and I." he explained.

'• But — but I cdiWi possibly do anything.'*

*• * Can't possibly * is a phrase I have learned
to misunderstand."

*' Really, Mr Beveridge, I mustn't do any-
thing."

" Mustn't is an invariable preface to a sin.
Never use it ; it's a temptation in itself"

" It wouldn't be right," she said, with quite
a show of firmness.

I!e looked at her a little curiously. For a
moment he almost seemed puzzled. Then he
pressed her hand and asked tenderly, *' Why
not?"

And in a half-audible aside he added, " That's
the correct move, I think."

" What did you say ? " she asked.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

** I said, 'Why not?'" he answered, wiih
increasing tenderness.

** But you said something else."

*• I added a brief prayer for pity."

Lady Alicia sighed and repeated a little less
firmly. "It wouldn't be right of me, Mr
Beveridge."

" But what would be wrong ? "

This was said with even more fervour.

"My conscience — we are very particular,
you know."

" Who are * we ' ? "

" Papa is very strict High Church."

An idea seemed to strike Mr Beveridge, for
he ruminated in silence.

"I asked Mr Candles — our curate, you
know," Lady Alicia continued, with a heroic
effort to make her position clear.

*• You told him ! " he exclaimed.

" Oh, I didn't say who it was — I mean what
it was I thought of doing — I mean the tempta-
tion — that is, the possibility. And he said it
was very kind of me to think of it ; but I
mustn't do anything, and he advised me to
read a book he gave me, and — and I mustn't
think of it, really, Mr Beveridge."

I '

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

To himself Mr Beveridge repeated under his
breath, "Archbishops, bishops, deacons, curates,
fast in Lent, and an anthem after the Creed.
I think I remember enough to pass."

Then he assumed a very serious face, and
said aloud, "Your scruples do your heart
credit. They have given me an insight into
your deep and sweet character, which em-
boldens me to make a confession."

He stopped skating, folded his arms, and
continued unblushingly, " I was educated for
the Church, but the prejudices of my parents,
the immature scepticism of youth, and some
uncertainty about obtaining my archbishopric,
induced me in an unfortunate moment, which I
never ceased to bitterly regret, to quit my
orders."

" You are in orders ? " she exclaimed.

" I was in several. I cancelled them, and
entered the Navy instead."

"The Navy?" she asked, excusably bewil-
dered by these rapid changes of occupation.

" For five years I was never ashore."

"But," she hesitated — "but you said you
were in the Army."

Mr Beveridge gave her a look full of benig-

THK LUNAriC AT LARGE.

nant compassion that made her, she did not
quite know why, feel terribly abashed.

"My reijiment was quartered at sea," he
condescended to explain. " But in time my
conscience awoke. I announced my intention
of resuming my charge. My uncle was furious.
My enemies were many. I was seized, thrown
into this prison-house, and now my only friend
fails me."

They were both siltiit. She ventured once
to glance up at his face, and it seemed to her
that his eyes were moist — though perhaps it was
that her own were a little dim.

" Let us skate on," he said, abruptly, with a
fine air of resignation.

" By the way," he suddenly added, " I was
extremely High Church, in fact almost freez-
ingly high."

For five minutes they skated in silence, then
Lady Alicia began softly, "Supposing you —
you went away "

" What is the use of talking of it ? " he
exclaimed, melodramatically. ** Let me forget
my short-lived hopes ! "

" You Aave a friend," she said, slowly.

"A friend who tantalises me by 'supposings'!"

(

{

THK LUNA'IlC AT LARGE.

" But supposing you did, Mr Bcveridge,
would you go back to your — did you say you
had a parish ? "

" I had : a large, populous, and happy parish.
It is my one dream to sit once more on its
council and direct my curate."

"Of course that makes a difference. Mr
Candles didn't know all this."

They had come by this time to the corner of
a little island that lay not far from the shore ; in
the channel ahead a board labelled ** Danger "
marked a hidden spring ; behind them the
shining ice was almost bare of skaters, for all
but Dr Escott seemed to be leaving ; on the
bank they could see Moggridge prowling about
in the gathering dusk, a vigilant reminder of
captivity. Mr Beveridge took the whole scene
in with, it is to be feared, a militant rather than
an episcopal eye. Then he suddenly asked,
'' Are you alone ? "

"Yes."

" You drive back ? "

"Ye-es."

He took out his watch and made a brief
calculation.

" Go now, call at Clankwood or do anything

r«

THE LUNATIC AT LAk(.E.

else you like, and pass down the drive again at
a quarter to five."

This sudden pinning of her irresolution
almost took Lady Alicia's breath away.

•* But I never said " she began.

•* My dear friend," he interrupted, "in the
hour of action only a fool ever sa\s. Come
on."

And while she still hesitated they w< re off
again.

'* But " she tried to expostulate.

" My dearest friend," he whispered, ' and
my dear old '^'icarage ! "

He ga.e lier no time to protest. Her
skates were off, she was on her way to her
carriage, and he was striking out again for
the middle of the lake before she had time to
collect her wits.

He took out his watch and looked at the
time. It was nearly a quarter-past four. Then
he came up to Escott, who by this time was the
only other soul on the ice.

'• About time we were going in," said Escott.

"Give me half-an-hour more. I'll show you
how to do that vine you admired"

** All right," assented the Doctor.

/ :

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

A minute or two later Mr Beverid^^e, as if
struck by a sudden reflection, exclaimed, " By
Jove, there's that poor devil Moggridge freezini^
to dt;ath on shore. Can't you manage to look
after so dangerous a lunatic yourself? It is
his tea-time, too."

" Hallo, so he is," replied Escott ; " I'll send
him up."

And so there were only left the "^wo men on
the ice.

For a little the lesson went on, and presently,
leaving the doctor to practise, Mr Beveridge
skated away by himself. He first paused
opposite a seat on the bank over which hung
Dr Escott's great fur coat. This spectacle
appeared to afford him peculiar pleasure.
Then he looked at his watch. It was half-
past four. He shut the watch with a click,
threw a glance at his pupil, and struck out for
the island. If the doctor had been looking, he
might have seen him round it in the gloaming.

Dr Escott, leaning far on his outside edge,
met him as he returned.

*• What's that under your coat ? " he asked.

** A picture I intend to ask your opinion on
presently," replied Mr Beveridge; and he added,

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

with his most charminj^ air, " But now, before
we go in, let me ^ive you a ride on one of
these chairs, doctor."

They started off, the pace c;rowing faster and
faster, and presently Or Escott saw that they
were going behind the island.

" Look out for the spring ! " he cried.

" It must be bearing now," replied Mr
Beveridge, striking out harder than ever;
"they have taken away the board."

"All riiLiht," said the doctor, "on you go."

As h<* spok(; he felt a violent push, and the
chair, slewing round as it went, flew on its
course unguided. Mr Beveridge's skates
rasped on the ice with a spray of white
powder as he stopped himself suddenly.
Ahead of him there was a rending crack,
and Dr Escott and his chair disappeared.
Mr Beveridge laughed cheerfully, and taking
from under his coat a board with the legend
" Danger " printed in large characters across
its face, he placed it beside the jagged hole.

" Here is the picture. Doctor," he said, as a
dripping, gasping head came up for the second
time. " I must ask a thousand pardons for
this — shall I say, liberty ? But, as you know,

THi: MINAIIC AT LAKC.E.

I'm off my head. Good nioht. Let me
recommend a hot drink when you come out.
There are only five feet of water, so you
won't drown." And with that he skated
rapidly away.

Escott had a glim[)se of him vanishing round
the corner of the island, and then the ice brokr
again, and down he went. Four, five, six
times he made a desperate effort to get out,
and every time the thin ice tore under his
hands, and he slipped back again. By the
seventh attempt he had broken his way to the
thicker sheet ; he got one leg up, slipped, got
it up again, and at last, half numbed and
wholly breathless, he was crawling circum-
spectly away. When at last he ventured to
rise to his feet, he skated with all the speed he
could make to the seat where he had left his
coat. A pair of skates lay there instead, but
the coat had vanished. Dr Escott's philosoph-
ical estimate of Mr Beveridge became consid-
erably modified.

*' Thank the Lord, he can't get out of the
grounds," he said to himself; "what a danger-
ous devil he is ! But he'll be sorry for this
performance, or I'm mistaken."

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

When he arrived at the house his first
inquiries were for his tutor in the art of vine-
cutting, and he was ratlier surprised to hear
that he had not yet returned, for he only
imagined himself the victim of a peculiarly
ill-timed practical joke.

Men with lanterns were sent out to search
the park ; and still there was no sign of Mr
Beveridge. Inquiries were made at the lodge,
but the gatekeeper could swear that only a
single carriage had passed through. Dr
Congleton refused at first to believe that he
could possibly have got out.

"Our arrangements are perfect, — the thing's
absurd," he said, peremptorily.

•* That there man, sir," replied Moggridge,
who had been summoned, " is the slipperiest
customer as ever I seed. *E's hout, sir, I
believe."

"We might at least try the stations," sug-
gested Escott, wh;r had by this time changed,
and indulged in the hot drink recommended.

The doctor began to be a little shaken.

"Well, well," said he, "I'll send a man to
each of the three stations within walking
distance; and whether he's out or in, we'll

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

have him by to-morrow morning. IVe always
taken care that he had no money in his
pockets."

But what is a doctor's care against a woman's
heart } For many to-morrows Clankwood had
to lament the loss of the gifted Francis
Beveridge.

CHAPTER VII.

:;. li.

At sixteen minutes to five Mr Beveridge
>^tood by the side of the Clank wood Avenue,
comfortably wrapped in Dr Kscott's fur coat,
and smoking with the greatest relish one of
Dr Kscott's undeniable ciLrars.

It was almost dark, the air bit keen, the dim
park with its population of black trees was
filled with a frosty, eager still nt^ss. All round
the invisible wall hemmed him in, the ten
pounds, seventeen shillings, and sixpence lay
useless in his pocket till that was past, and his
one hope depended on a woman. But Mr
Beveridge was an amateur in the sex, and he
smiled complacently as he smoked.

He had waited barely three minutes when
the quick clatter of a pair of horr>es fell on his
ears, and presently the lights of a carriage and
pair, driving swiftly away from Clankwood,
raked the drive on either side, As they

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

rattled up to him he gave a shout to the
coachman to stop, and stepped right in front
of the horses. With something that sounded
unlike a blessing, the pair were thrown almost
on their haunches to check them in time.
Never stopping to explain, he threw open the
door and sprang in ; the coachman, hearing no
sound of protest, whipped up again, and Mr
Beveridge found himself rolling through the
park of Clankwood In the Countess of Grillyer's
carriage with a very timid little figure by his
side. Even in that moment of triumphant
excitement the excellence of his manners was
remarkable : the first thing he said was, " Do
you mind smoking ? "

In her confusion of mind Lady Alicia could
only reply " Oh no," and not till some time
afterwards did she remember that the odour
of a cigar was clinging and the Countess's nose
unusually sensitive.

After this first remark he leaned back in
silence, gradually filling the carriage with a
blue-grey cloud, and looking out of the win-
dows first on one side and then on the other.
They passed quickly through the lines of trees
and the open spaces of frosty park-land, they

♦

\ ;

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

drew up at the lodge for a moment, he heard
his prison gates swing open, the harness jingled
and the hoofs began to clatter again, a swift
vision of lighted windows and a man looking
on them incuriously swept by, and then they
were rolling over a country road between
hedgerows and under the free stars.

It was the Lady Alicia who spoke first.

" I never thought you wouM really come,'*
she said,

*• I have been waiting for that remark," he
replied, with his most irresistible smile; "now
for some more practical conversation."

As he did not immediately begin this con-
versation himself, her curiosity overcame her,
and she asked, "How did you manage to get
out ? "

" As my friend Dr Escott offered no opposi-
tion, I walked away."

•• Did he really let you ? "

•* He never even expostulated."

"Then — then it's all right?" she said, with
an inexplicable sensation of disappointment

" Perfectly — so far."

•• But — didn't they object ?"

" Not yet," he replied ; " objections to my

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

movements are generally made after they have
been performed."

Somehow she felt immensely relieved at this
hint of opposi. ion.

"I'm so glad you got away," she whispered,
and then repented in a flutter.

"Not more so than I am," he answered,
pressing her hand.

" And now," he added, " I should like to
know how near Ashditch Junction you propose
to take me."

" Where are you going to, Mr Beveridge ? "

The " Mr Beveridge " was thrown in as a
corrective to the hand-pressure.

" To London ; where else, my Alicia ? With
;^io, 17s. 6d. in my pocket, I shall be able to
eat at least three good dinners, and, by the
third of them, if I haven't fallen on my feet it
will be the first time I have descended so
unluckily."

" But," she asked, consider.ibly disconcerted,
'• I thought you were going back to your
parish.

For a moment he too seemed a trifle put
about. Then he replied readily, " So I am, as
soon as I have purchased the necessary outfit.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

f
I

restocked my ecclesiastici library, and called
on my bishop."

She felt greatly relieved at this justification
of her share in the adventure.

*' Drop me at the nearest point to the sta-
tion," he said.

" I am afraid," she began — " I mean I think
you had better get out soon. The first road
on the right will take you straight there, and
we had better not pass it."

" Then I must bid you farewell," and he
sighed most effectively. " Farewell, my bene-
factress, my dear Alicia ! Shall I ever see you,
shall I ever hear if you again ? "

"I might — I might just write once; if you
will answer it : I mean if you would care to
hear from such a "

She found it difficult to finish, and prudentl}
stopped.

" Thanks," he replied, cheerfully ; " do, — I
shall live in hopes. I'd better stop the
carriage now.'

He let down the window, when she said
hastily, " But I don't know your address."

He reflected for an instant. " Care of the
Archbishop of York will always find me," he

I HE LUNA lie AT LAKGK.

<^3

replied ; and as if unwilling to let his emotion
be obsc'rved, he immediately put his head out
of the windov/ and called on the coachman to
stop.

" Good-bye," he whispered, tenderly, squeez-
ing her fingers with one hand and opening the
door with the other.

" Don't quite forget me," she whispered
back.

"Never!" he replied, and was in the act of
getting out when he suddenly turned, and ex-
claimed, *' I must be more out of practice than
I thought ; I had almost forgotten the pro-
tested salute."

And without further preamble the Lady
Alicia found herself kissed at last.

He jumped out and shut the door, and the
carriage with its faint halo clattered into the
darkness.

" They are wonderfully alike," he reflected.

About twenty minutes later he walked
leisurely into Ashditch Junction, and having
singled out the station-master, he accosted him
with an air of beneficent consideration and in-
quired how soon he could catch a train for
London.

■ i

THE LUNATIC AT LAK(,E.

It appeared that the up express was not
due for nearly three-quarters of an hour.

" A little too long to wait," he said to
himself, as he turned up the collar of his pur-
loined fur coat to keep out the cold, and
picked another cigar from its rightful owner's
case.

By way of further defying the temperature
and cementing his acquaintance with the
station-master, he offered to regale that grati-
fied official with such refreshments as the
station bar provided. In the consumption of
whiskies - and - sodas (a beverage difficult to
obtain in any quantity at Clankwood) Mr
Beveridge showed himself as accomplished as
in every other feat. In thirty-five minutes
he had despatched no fewer than six, besides
completely winning the station-master's heart.
As he had little more than five minutes now
to wait, he bade a genial farewell to the lady
btdiind the bar, and started to purchase his
ticket.

Hardly had he left the door of the refresh-
ment-room when he perceived an uncomfort-
ably familiar figure just arrived, breathless
with running, on the opposite platform. The

THE LUNA lie AT LAKGE,

light of a lamp Icll on his shining face : it
was Moggridge !

A stout heart niight be forgiven for sinking
at the sight, but Mr Beveridge merely turned
to his now firm friends and said with his easiest
air, " On the opposite platform I perceive one
of n^y runaway lunatics. Bring a couple of stout
porters as ijuickly as )<)u can, for he is a person
of much str( n-^th and address. My namtt," he
drew a card case from the pocket of his fur coat,
** is, a 1 you see, Dr Escott of Clankwood."

Meanwhile Moggridge, after hurriedly in-
vestigating the platform he was on, suddenly
spied a tall fr.r-coated figure on the opposite
side. Without a moment's hesitation he sprang
o\ to the rails, and had just mounted the other
side as the station-master and two porters ap-
peared.

Seeing his allies by his side Mr Beveridge
never said a word, but, throwing off his hat,
he lowered his head, charged his keeper, and
picking him up by the knees threw him heavily
on his back. Before he had a chance of re-
covering himself the other three were seated
on his chest employed in winding a coil of rope
round and round his prostrate form.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

Two niiiuitcis lat<ir Mui^^jriJ^c was sittiiij^
bound haiicl and foot in the bookinij office,
addressing an amused audience in a strain of
peril, ips excusable exasperation, which how-
ever merely served to impress the Ashditch
officials with a growing sense of their address
in capturing so dangerous a lunatic. In the
middle of this entertainin;^ scene the London
express steamed in, and Mr B<iveridge, court-
eously thanking the station - master for his
assistance, stepped into a first-class carriage.

•' I should be much obliged," he said, lean-
ing on the door of his compartment and blow-
ing the smoke of Dr Escott's last Havannah
lightly from his lips, *' if you would be kind
enough to keep that poor fellow in the station
till to-morrow. It is rather too late to send
him back now. Good night, and many thanks."

He pressed a coin into the station-master's
hand, which that disappointed official only
discovered on emptying his pockets at night
to be an ordinary sixpence, the guard whistled,
and one by one, smoothly and slowly and then
in a bright stream, the station lamps slipped
by. The last of them flitted into the night,
and the train swung and rattled by a mile a

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

minute nearer to London town aiul farther
from the high stone wall. There was no
other stop, and for a loii<^ hour the adventurer
sat with his legs luxuriously stretched along
the cushions looking out into a fainter dupli-
cate of his carriage, pierced now and then by
the glitter of brighter points as they whisked
by some wayside village, or crossed by the
black shadows of trees. The whole time he
smiled contentedly, doubtless at the prospect
of his parish work. All at once he seemed
stirred, and, turning in his seat, laid his face
upon the window, and pulled down the blind
behind his head, so that he could see into the
night. He had spied the first bright filaments
of London. Quickly they spread into a twink-
ling network, and then as quickly were shut out
by the first line of suburb houses ; through the
gaps they grew nearer and flared cheerfully ;
the train hooted over an archway, and in the
road below he had a glimpse of shop windows
and crowded pavements and moving" omni-
buses : he was in the world again, and at the
foretaste of all this life he laughed like a
delighted child. Last of all came the spread
of shining rails and the red and yellow lights

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

1.25

KS ^ 1112.2

If 1^ mil 2.0

1.8

i-4 IIIIII.6

p;^

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 873-4503

'ib^

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

of many signals, and then the high glass roof
and long, lamp - lit platforms of St Euston's
Cross.

Unencumbered by luggage or plans, Mr
Francis Beveridge stuck his hands deep in his
pockets and strolled aimlessly enough out of the
station into the tideway of the Euston Road.
For a little he stood stock-still on the pavement
watching the throng of people and the per-
petual buses and drays and the jingling han-
soms picking their way through it all.

"For a man of brains," he moralised, **even
though he be certified as insane, for probably
the best of reasons, this London has surely
fools enough to provide him with all he needs
and more than he deserves. I shall set out
with my lantern like a second Diogenes to
look for a foolish man."

And so he strolled along again to the first
opening southwards. That led him through
a region of dingy enough brick by day, but
decked now with its string of lamps and
bright shop -windows here and there, and
kept alive by passing buses and cabs going
and coming from the station. Farther on the
street grew gloomier, and a dark square with

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

a grove of trees in the middle opened ofif
one side; but, rattle or quiet, flaring shops
or sad -looking lodgings, he found it all too
fresh and amusing to hurry.

•' Back to my parish again," he said to him-
self, smiling broadly at the drollery of the
idea. *• If I'm caught to-morrow, I'll at least
have one merry night in my wicked, humorous
old charge."

He reached Holborn and turned west in the
happiest and most enviable of mooas ; the very
policemen seemed to cast a friendly eye on
him ; the frosty air, he thought, made the
lights burn brighter and the crowd move
more briskly than ever he had seen them.
Suddenly the sight of a hairdresser's saloon
brought an inspiration. He stroked his beard,
twisted his moustaches half regretfully, and
then exclaiming, " Exit Mr Beveridge," turned
into the shop.

PART II.

Jji

I
11

CHAPTER I.

The Baron Rudolf von Blitzenberg sat by
himself at a table in the dining-room of the
H6tel Mayonaise, which, as everybody knows,
is the largest and most expensive in London.
He was a young man of a florid and burly
Teutonic type and the most ingenuous coun-
tenance. Being possessed of a curious and
enterprising disposition, as well as the most
ample means, he had left his ancestral castle
in Bavaria to study for a few months the
customs and politics of England. In the
language he was already proficient, and he
had promised himself an amusing as well as
an instructive visit. But, although he had
only arrived in London that morning, he was
already beginning to feel an uncomfortable
apprehension lest in both respects he should
be disappointed. Though his introductions
were the best with which the British Ambas-

:■!

THF. LUNATIC AT LARGE.

sador could supply him, they were only three
or four in number, — for, not wishing to be
hampered with too many acquaintances, he
had rather chosen quality than quantity : and
now, in the course of the afternoon, he had
found to his chagrin that in every case the
families were out of town. In fact, so far as
he could learn, they were not even at their
own country seats. One was abroad, another
gone to the seaside to recover from the
mumps, or a third paying a round of visits.

The disappointment was sharp, he felt ut-
terly at sea as to what he should do, and
he was already beu^inning to experience the
loneliness of a single mortal in a crowded
hotel.

As the frosty evening was setting in and the
shops were being lit, he had strolled out into
the streets in the vague hope of meeting some
strange foreign adventure, or perhaps even
happily lighting upon some half- forgotten
diplomatic acquaintance. But he found the
pavements crowded with a throng who took
no notice of him at all, but seemed every
man and most women of them to be pushing
steadily, and generally silently, towards a mil-

HE LUNATIC AT LAKGK.

lion mysterious groals. Not that he could tell
they were silent except by their set lips, for
the noise of wheels and horses on so many
hundreds of miles of streets, and the cries of
busmen and vendors of eveninoj papers, made
such a hubbub that he felt before long in n
maze. He lost his way four times, and was
patronisingly set right by beneficent policemen,
and at last, feeling like a man who has fallen
off a precipice on to a soft place — none the
worse but quite bewildered — he struggled back
to his hotel. There he spun out his time by
watching the people come and go, and at last
dressed with extra deliberation.

About eight o'clock he sat down ':o his sol-
itary dinner. The great gilt and panelled
room was full of diners and bustling waiters,
but there was not a face the Baron liad ever
seen before. He was just finishing a plate of
whitebait when he observed a stranj^er enter
the room and stroll in a very self-possessed
manner down the middle, glancing at the
tables round him as though he was looking
either for a friend or a desirable seat. This
gentleman was tall, fair, and clean-shaved ; he
was dressed in a suit of w<ll- fitting tweeds.

THE LUNA lie AT LARGE.

and his air impressed the Baron as being
natural and yet distinguished. At last his
eye fell upon the Baron, who felt conscious
of undergoing a quick, critical scrutiny. The
table at which that nobleman sat was laid for
two, and coming apparently to a sudden
resolution, the good-looking stranger seated
himself in the vacant chair. In an agreeable
voice and with an unmistakably well-bred air
he asked a waiter for the wine-list, and then,
like a man with an excellent appetite, fell to
upon the various Aors d'ceuvres, the entire col-
lection of which, in fact, he consumed in a
wonderfully short space of time. The Baron,
being himself no trifler with his victuals,
regarded this feat with sympathetic approval,
and began to feel a little less alone in the
world. His naturally open disposition was
warmed besides, owing to a slight misconcep-
tion he had fallen into, perfectly excusable
however in a foreigner. He thought he had
read somewhere that port was the usual ac-
companiment to the first courses of an English
dinner, and as his waiter had been somewhat
dilatory in bringing him the more substantial
items of the repast, he had already drunk

•IHE LUNATIC AT LAKC.E.

three claret - L'lasses of this clu-crinir wine.
The chill recollections ot his sixteen quarter-
ings and the exclusiveness he had determined
to maintain as becoming to his rank were
already meltinir. and he met the stranger's
eye with what for the life of him he could

not help being a cordial look.

His vis-a-vis caught the glance, smiled back.

and immediatel) asked, with the most charming

politeness, - Do you care, sir, to split a bottle

of champagne .-* "

''To^-^r—shplid?'' said the Baron, with

a disappointed consciousness of having been

put at a loss in his English by the very first

man who had spoken to him.

"I beg your pardon, — I am afraid I was

unintelligibly idiomatic. To divide, I should

say, you consuming one-half, I the other. Am

I clear, sir } "

For a moment the Baron was a little taken
aback, and then recollecting that the dining
iiabits of the English were still new to him,
he concluded that the sucr^^estion was probably
a customary act of courtesy. He had already
come to the conclusion that the gentleman
must be a person of rank, and he replied af-

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

ably, "Yah — zat is. vid pleasure. Zanks.
very."

*• The pleasure is mine/' said the stranger —
"and half the bottle," he added, smiling.

The Caron, whose perception of humour hid
been abnormally increased by this time, laughed
hilariously at the infection of his new acquaint-
ance s smile.

" Goot, goot ! " he cried. *' Ach, yah, zo."

" Am I right, sir, in supposing that, despite
the perfection of your English accent, I cannot
be fortunate enough to claim you as a country-
man ? " asked the stranger.

The Baron's resolutions of reticence had
vanished altogether before such unexpected
and (he could not but think) un-English friend-
liness. He unburdened his heart with a rush.

" You have ze right. I am Deutsch. I have
gom to England zis day for to lairn and tc
amuse myself. But mein. vat you call ? — in-
trodogtions zey are not inside, zat is zey are
from off. Not von. all, every single gone to ze
gontry or to abroad. I am alone. T eat my
dinner in zolitude, I am pleased to meet you,

zare.

})

A cork popped and the champagne frotned

i I

THE LUNAT/C AT LAK(JE.

into the straiiiTcr's i^lass. RaisinLr it to his lips,
he said, " Prosit ! "

" Prosit!" responded the Baron, enthusiasti-
cally. " You know ze Deutsch, sare ? "

" I am safer in En^rh'hh, I confess."

" Ach, das ist ijoot, i vant for to practeese.
Ve vill talk English."

" With all my heart," said the stranger. " I,
too, am alone, and I hold myself more than
fortunate in making your acquaintance. It's a
devilish dull world when one can't share a
botde — or a brace of them, for the matter of
that."

'• You know London ? " asked the Baron.

•• I used to, and I daresay my memory will
revive."

•' I know it not, pairhaps you can inform. I
haf gom, as I say, to-day."

"With pleasure," said the stranger, readily.
"In fact, if you are ever disengaged I may
possibly be able to act as showman."

" Showman ! " roared the Baron, thinking he
had discovered a jest. "Ha, ha, ha I Goot,
zehr goot!"

The other looked a trifle astonished for an
instant^ and then as he sipped his champagne

100

THE LUiNATlC AT LARGE.

an expression of intense satisfaction came over
his face.

'* I can put away my (antern, ' he said to
himself, — ** 1 have founa him."

'• May 1 have the boldness to ask your name,
sir ? " he asked aloud.

" Ze Baron Rudolph von Blitzenberg,'" that
nobleman replied. '* Yours, sare — may I dare ? "

" Francis Bunker, at your service. Baron."

" You are noble ? " queried the Baron a little
anxiously, for his prejudices on this point were
strong.

" According to your standard I believe I may
say so. That's to say, my family have borne
arms for two hundred odd generations ; twenty-
five per cent of them have died of good living ;
and the most malicious have never accused us
of brains. I myself may not be very typical,
but I assure you it isn't my ancestors* fault."

The latter part of this explanation entirely
puzzled the Baron. The first statement, though
eminently satisfactory, was also a little be-
wildering.

" Two hondred generations ? " he asked,
courteously. " Zat is a vary old family. All
bore arms you say, Mistair Bonker ? "

i I

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

lOI

"All," replied Mr Bunker, gravely. •• The
first few bore tails as weM "

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the Baron. "Yo;i
are a fonny man I pairceive. vat you rail clown
yes.?"

" What my friends call clown, and I call wit,"
Mr Bunker corrected.

''Vit! Ha, ha, ha!" roared the Baron,
whose mind was now in an El Dorado of
humour when jokes grew like daisies. His
loneliness had disappearetl as if by magic ; as
course succeeded course his contentment showed
itself in a perpetually beaming smile : he ceased
to worry even about his friend's pedigree, con-
vinced in his mind that manners so delightful
and distinguished could only result from re-
peated quarterings and unoccupied forefethers.
Yet by the time dessert arrived and he had
again returned to his port, he began to feel an
extreme curiosity to know more concernin^r Mr
Bunker. He himself had volunteered a large
quantity of miscellaneous information : about
Bavaria, its customs and its people, more es-
pecially the habits and history of the Blitzen-
berg family; about himself, his parentage and
education ; all about his family ghost, his official

I I, i <

102

THE LUNATIC AT LAKGK.

h^ i

i?i'

position as hereditary carpet beater to the Bav-
arian Court, and miny other things equally
entertaining and instructive. Mr Bunker, for
his part, had so far confined his confiilences to
his name.

" My dear Bonker," said the Baron at last —
he had become quite familiar by this time —
" vat make you in London ? I fear you are
bird of passage. Do you stay long ? "

Mr Bunker cracked a nut, looking very
serious ; then he leant on one elbow, glanced up
at the ceiling pensively, and sighed.

" I hope I do not ask vat I should not," the
Baron interposed, courteously.

" My dear Baron, ask what you like," replied
Mr Bunker. " In a city full of strancrers, or of
friends who have forgotten me, you alone have
my confidence. My story is a common one of
youthful folly and present repentance, but such
as it is, you are welcome to it."

The Baron gulped down half a glass of
port and leaned forward sympathetically.

" My father," Mr Bunker continued with
an air of half-sad reminiscence, *' is one of
the largest landowners and the head of one
of the most ancient families in the north of

I :

•

tHE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

103

England. I was his eldest son and heir. I
am still, I have every reason to believe, his
eldest son, but my heirship, I regret to say,
is more doubtful. J spent a prodigal youth
and a larger sum of money than my poor
father approved of. He was a strict though
a kind parent, and for the good of my health
and the replenishment of the family coffers,
which had been sadly drained by my extra-
vagance, he sent me abroad. There I have
led a roving life for the last six years, and at
last, my wild oats sown, reaped, and gathered
in (and a well-filled stackyard they made, I can
assure you), I decided to return to England
and become an ornament to respectable society.
Like you, I arrived in London to-day, but only
to find to my disgust that my family have gone
to winter in Egypt. So you see that at present
I am like a shipwrecked sailor clinging to a
rock and waiting, with what patience I can
muster, for a boat to take me off."

"\ou mean," inquired the Baron, anxiously,
''that you vish to g^o to Egypt at vonce ?"

" I had thought of it ; thouorh there is a diffi-
culty in the way, I admit."

" You vill not stay zen here ? *

t04

THt LUNATIC AT LARGE.

I i

I :, I

■ ,

"My dear Baron, why should I ? I have
neither friends nor "

He stopped abruptly.

" I do not like to zink I shall lose your
company so soon."

•' I admit," allowed Mr Bunker, " that this
fortunate meeting tempts me to stay."

" Vy not ? " said the Baron, cordially. " Can
your fader not vait to see you ? "

" I hardly think he will worry about me,
I confess."

"Zen stay, my goot Bonker ! "

" Unfortunately there is the same difficulty
as stands in the way of my going to Egypt."

" And may I inquire vat zat is ? "

" To tell you the truth," replied Mr Bunker,
with an air of reluctant candour, " my funds are
rather low. I had trusted to finding my father

at home, but as he isn't, why " he shrugged

his shoulders and threw himself back in his
chair.

The Baron seemed struck with an idea which
he hesitated to express.

" Shall we smoke ? " his friend suggested.

" Vaiter ! " cried the Baron, " bring here two
best cigars and two coffee ! "

1 ■•

IIS

THE LUNATIC AT LAKGE.

105

((

•' A liqueur, Baron ? "
Ach, yah. Vat for you ? "
A liqueur brandy suggests itself."

" Vaiter! and two brandy."

•' And now," said the Baron, • I haf an idei;
Bonker."

io6

! I

i I

ill :

'" i!

' 'l\

i. . i

CHAPTER II.

The Baron Rudolph von Blitzenberg, ns I
have said, had a warm heart. He was, be-
sides, alone in one hundred and twenty square
miles of strangers and foreigners when he had
happened upon this congenial spirit. He be-
gan in a tone of the most ingenuous friend-
liness —

" I haf no friends here. My introdogtions
zey are gone. Bot I haf moch money, and
I vish a, vat you say? — showman, ha, ha, ha!
You haf too leetle money and no friends and
you can show. You show and I will loan you
vat you vish. May I dare to suggest?"

" My dear Baron!"

" My goot Bonker ! I am in airnest, I nssure.
Vy not ? It is vun gentleman and anozzer."

" You are far too kind "

"It is to myself I am kind, zen. 1 vant
a guide, a frient. It is a loan. Do not

illE LUNATIC /.T LAKGE.

scruple. Ven your fader goms you can pa)
if you please. It is nozino to me."

"Well, my clear Baron," said Mr Bunker,
like a man persuaded against his will, "what
can I say ? I confess I might find a little
difficulty in replenishing my purse without
resorting to disagreeable means, and if you
really wish my society, why "

** Zen it is a bairgaln ? " cried the Baron.

** If you insist "

" I insist. Vaiter ! Alzo two ozzer liqueur.
Ve most drink to ze bairgaln, Bonker."

They pledged each other cordially, and talked
from that moment like old friends. The Baron
was thoroughly pleased with himself, and Mr
Bunker seemed no less gratified at his own
good fortune. Half an hour went quickly by,
and then the Baron exclaimed, " Let us do
zomzing to-night, Bonker. I burn for to be-
gin zis show of London."

*' What would you care to do, Baron ? It is
rather late, I am afraid, to think of a theatre.
What do you say to a music hall ? "

"Music-hall.'* I haf seen zem at home.
Damned amusing, das ist ze expression, yes ? "

" It is a perfect description."

fli^

1 08

THL LUNAliC AT LARGE.

" bot," continued the Baron, solemnly. " I
most nof beofin vid ze vickedest."

"And yet,' replied his friend, persuasively,
"even wickedness needs a beginning."

'* Bot, if I begin I may not stop. Zomzing
more qviet ze first night. Haf you a club ? "

Mr Bunker pondered for a moment, and a
curious smile stole across his face. Then it
vanished, and he answered readily, " Certainly,
Baron, an excellent idea. I haven't been to
my club for so long that it never struck me.
Let us come."

*• Goot ! " cried the Baron, rising with alacrity.

They put on their coats (Mr Bunker's, it may
be remarked, being a handsome fur-lined gar-
ment), the porter hailed a cab, and the driver
was ordered to take them to the Regent's Club
in Pall Mall. The Baron knew it by reputa-
tion as the most exclusive in London, and his
opinion of his friend rose still higher.

They joined a jingling string of other han-
soms and sped swiftly through the exhilarating
bustle of the streets. To the Baron it seemed
as if a great change had come over the city
since he wandered disconsolately before dinner.
Carried swiftly to the music of the little bells

THE LUNATIC AT LAKL.E.

109

through the sharp air and the London night
that is brighter than day, with a friend by his
side and a good dinner within, he marked the
most astonishing difference. All the people
seemed to talk and laiu^h, and for his own part
he found it hard to keep his tongue still.

** I know ze name of ze Regent's," he said ;
" vun club of ze best, is it not ? "
" The very best club, Baron."
" Zey are all noble ? '

" In many cases the receipts for their escut-
cheons are still in their pockets. '

Though the precise significance of this ex-
planation was not quite clear to the Baron, it
sounded eminently satisfactory.

''Zof" he said. "I shall be moch inter-
ested to see zem."

As they entered the club the porte«* stared
ar them curiously, and even made a movement
as though he would step out and address them ;
but Mr Bunker, wishing him a courteous good
evening, walked briskly up to the hat-and-
cloak racks in the hall. A young man had
just hung up his hat, and as he was divesting
himself of his coat, Mr Bunker quickly took
the hat down, glanced at the name inside, and

IIO

THE LUNATIC AT LAKGE.

replaced it on its pvj^. Then he held out his
hand and addressed the young man cordially.

** Good evening, Transome, how are you ? "
said he, and, heedless of the look of surprise
on the other's facf% he turned towards the
Baron and added, " Let me introduce the
Baron Rudolph von Blitzenberg — Mr Tran-
F/i-me. The Baron has just come to England,
and I thought he couldn't begin better than by
a visit to the Regent's. Let us come into the
smoking-room."

In a few minutes they were all on the best
of terms. A certain perplexity, and almost
shyness, that the young man showed at first,
Vimished rapidly before the Baron's cordiality
and Mr Bunker's well-bred charm of mannc*.

They were deeply engrossed in a discussion
on the reigning sovereign of the Baron's native
land, a monarch of whose enlightened policy
that nobleman spoke with pardonable pride,
when two eldeily gentlemen entered the room.

"Who are these?" Mr Bunker whispered
to Transome. *' I know them very well, out
I am always bad at names."

"Lord Fabrioras and General M'Dermott"
replied Transome,

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

Ill

Instantly Mr Bunker rose and orreeted the
new-comers.

" Good eveninjjf. Lord Fabri^^as ; j^ood
evening, Gen^iral. You have just come in
time to be introduced to the Baron Rudolph
von Blitzenberg, whom you doublli^ss know
by reputation."

The Baron rose and bowed, and it struck
him that elderly English gentlemen were
singularly stiff and constrained in their man-
ner. Mr Bunker, however, continued cheer-
fully, "We are just going to have j. smoking
concert. Will you begin, Baron ? "

*• I know not English songs," replied
ihe Baron, *' bet I should like moch to
hear."

" You must join in the chorus, then."

"Certainly, Bonker. I haf a voice zat is
considered — vat you call — deafening, yes ? — in
ze chorus."

Mr Bunker cleared his throat, and, just as
the General was on the point of interposing a
remark, struck up hastily ; and for the first time
in its long and honourable history the smoking-
room of the Regent's Club re-echoed to a
popuiar music-hall ditty.

112

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

I i

ii i

• rhey sometimes call *em duckies, they sometimes cal) 'em
pets,

And sometimes they refer to 'em as dears.
They live on little matters that a gentleman forgets,

In a little world of giggles and of tears ;
There are different varieties from which a man may choose.

There are sorts and shapes and sizes withtuit end,
Wut the kind I'd pick myself is the kind you introduce

By the simple title of ' my lady friend.'"

" Chorus, Baron ! " And then he trolled i<.
\\d\tz time this edifying refrain —

" My lady friend, my lady friend I
Can't you twig, dear boys,
From the sound of the kisses
She isn't my misses.
She's only my lady friend I "

Tti a voice like a train going over a bridge
tbe Baron chimed in —

" My laty vrient, my laty vrient !
Cannot you tvig, mine hoy,
Vrom ze sound of ze kiss.
He is not my miss.
He is only mine laty vrient ! "

" I am afraid," said Mr Bunker, as they
finished the chorus, ** that I can't remember
any more. Now, General, it's your turn."

•'Sir." repli'^d that gallant officer, who had
listened to this ditty in purple and petrified

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

'em

}ose,

1 h.

dge

ley
)er

lad
ied

astonishment, " I don't know who the devil you
are, but I can tell you, you won't remain a
member of this club much longer if you come
into it again in this state."

" I had forgotten," said Mr Bunker, with
even more than his usual politeness, " that
such an admirable music-hall critic was listen-
ing to me. I must apologise for my poor
effort."

Wishing him courteously good - night, he
took the Baron by the arm and walked out.
While that somewhat perplexed nobleman was
struggling into his coat, his friend rapidly and
dexterously converted all the silk hats he could
see into the condition of collapsed opera hats,
and then picked a small hand-bag off the floor.
The Baron walked out through the door first,
but Mr Bunker stopped for an instant opposite
the hall-porter's box, and crying, "Good night
to you, sir ! " hurled the bag through the glass,
rushed after his friend, and in less time than it
takes to tell they were tearing up Pall Mall in
a hansom.

For a few minutes both were silent ; then
the Baron said slowly, " I do not qvite onder-
stand."

114

THK LUNATIC Al LARGE.

" My dear Baron," his friend explained gaily,
*' these practical jokes are very common in our
clubs. They are quite part of our national life,
you know, and I thought you ought to see
everything."

The Baron said nothing, but he began to re-
alise that he was indeed in a foreign country.

!| fi

) I

i gaily,

in our

lal life,

to see

i'S

1 to ra-
il try.

CHAPTER III.

"Vell, Bonker, vat show to-day?" said the
Baron.

Mr Bunker sipped his coffee and smiled back
at his friend.

" What would you like ? " said he.

They were sitting in the Baron's private
room finishing one of the renowned H6tel
Mayonaise breakfasts. Out of the windows
they could see the bright curving river, the
bare tops of the Embankment trees, a file of
barges drifting with the tide, and cold-lookino-
clouds hurrying over the chaos of brick on the
opposite shore. It was a bright, breezy morn-
incr, and the Baron felt in high good -humour
with his surroundings. On maturer consider
ation, the entertaining experience of the night
before had greatly raised Mr Bunker in his
estimation. He had chuckled his way through
a substantial breakfast, and in such good com-

\<:

II!

ii6

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

pany felt reydy for any adventure that might
turn up.

He lit a ciear, pushed back his chair, and
replied blandly, " I am in your hands. I am
ready to enjoy anyzing."

" Do you wish instruction or entertainment ? "

" Mix zem, Bonker. Entertain by instrog-
tion ; instrogt by entertaining."

" You are epigrammatic. Baron, but devilish
vague. I presume, however, that you wish
entertaining experience from which a man of
your philosophical temperament can draw a
moral — afterwards. "

"Ha, ha!" laughed the Baron. "Excel-
lent ! You provide ze experiences — I draw ze
n-'oral."

"And we share the entertainment. The
theory is perfect, but I'm afraid we need a
programme. Now, on my own first visit to
London I remember being taken — by tlie hand
— to Madame Tussaud's Waxworks, the Tower,
St Paul's Cathedral, the fishmarket at Billings-
gate, the British Museum, and a number of
other damnably edifying spectacles. You might
naturally suppose that after such a round it
would be quite superfluous for me ever to

THE LUNATIC AT LARGL.

117

come up to town again. Yet, surprising as
it may appear, most of the knowledge of
London I hope to put at your disposal has
been gained in the course of subsequent visits."

•' Bot zese places— Tousaud, Tower, Paul's
— are zey not instrogtif ? "

" If you wish to learn that a great number
of years ago a vast quantity of inconsequent
events occurred, or that in an otherwise amus-
ing enough world there are here and there
collected so many roomfuls of cheerless arti-
cles, I can strongly recommend a visit to the
Tower of London or the British Museum."

" In mine own gontry," said the Baron,
thoughtfully, " I can lairn so moch."

** Then, my dear Baron, while you are here
forget it all."

** And yet." said the Baron, still thoughtfully,
" somzing I should lairn here."

" Certainly ; you will learn something of
what goes on underneath a waistcoat and a
little of the contents of a corset and petti-
coat. Also of the strange customs of this
city and the excellence of British institutions."

•' Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed the Baron, who
thought that if his friend had not actually

Ii8

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

made a jest, it was at least time ^or one to
occur. '' I see, I see. I araw ze moral,
ha, ha!"

"This morning," Mr Bunker continued, re-
flectively, •* we might — let me see — well, we
might do a little shopping. To tell you the
truth, Baron, my South African experiences
have somewhat exhausted my wardrobe."

" Ach, zo. Cairtainly ve vill shop. Bot,
Bonker, Soud Africa ? Vas it not Soud
America ?"

" Did I say Africa ? America of course
I meant. Well, let us shop if you have no
objections : then we might have a little lunch,
and afterwards visit the Park. For the even-
ing, what do you say to a theatre ? "

'* Goot ! " cried the Baron. ** Make it tzos."

Mr Bunkers shopping turned out to be a
pretty extensive operation.

" Loan vat you i)lease of money," said his
triend. " A gentleman should be dressed in
agreement."

With now and then an apology for his ex-
travagance, he took full advantage of the
Baron's generosity, and ordered such an as-
sortment of garments that his tailor could

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

119

hardly bow low enous^n to express his grati-
fication.

After an excellent lunch in the most ex-
pensive restaurant to be found, they walked
arm-in-arm westwards along Piccadilly, Mr
Bunker pointing out the various objects of
historical or ephemeral interest to be seen
in that thoroughfare, the Baron drinking in
this information with the serious air of the
distinguished traveller.

" And now we come to the Park," said Mr
Bunker. "Guard your heart, Baron.''

'• Ha, ha, ha ! " replied the Baron. " Zo
instrogtion is feenished, and now goms enter-
tainment, ha ? "

•* With the moral always running through it,
remember."

** I shall not forget."

The sunshine had brought out a great many
carriages and a sprinkling of walkers along the
railings. The two friends strolled among them,
eyeing the women and stopping now and then
to look back at a carriage.

"I suppose," said the Baron, '-zat vile you
haf been avay your frients have forgot you ''

As ne spoke a young man looked hard at M'

I20

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

I:.!

Bunker, and even made a movement as though
he would stop and speak to him. Mr Bunker
looked blandly through him and walked on.

" Do you not know zat gentleman ? "

*• Which gentleman ? "

" Ze young man zat looked so at you."

* • Some young men have a way of staring
here, Baron."

A few minutes later a lady in a passing
carriage looked round sharply at them with
an air of great surprise, and half bowed.

*' Surely," exclaimed the Baron, " zat vas a
frient of yours ! "

** I am not a friend of hers, then," Mr Bunker
replied with a laugh. " Her bow I think must
have been aimed at you."

The Baron shook his head, and seemed to
be drawing a moral.

" Baron," his friend exclaimed suddenly, " let
us go b^ick ; here comes one of our most popular
phenomena, a London fog. We need not stay
in the Park to observe it."

The sun was already obscured ; there stole a
most insidious chill through the air ; like the
changing of a scene on the stage they found
themselves in a few minutes walking in a little

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

121

ring of trees and road and iron railings instead
of a wide sunny park ; the roar of the streets
came from behind a wall of mist that opened
mysteriously to let a phantom carriage in and
out, and closed silently behind it again.

"I like not zis," said the Baron, with a
shiver.

By the time they had found Piccadilly again
there was nothing at all to be seen but the
light of the nearest lamp, as large and far awa>'
as a struggling sun, and the shadowy people
who fitted by.

Their talk ceased. The Baron turned up his
collar and sucked his cigar lugubriously, and
Mr Bunker seemed unusually thoughtful. They
had walked nearly as far as Piccadilly Circus
when they were pulled up by a cab turning
down a side-street. There was a lamp-post
at the corner, and under it stood a burly man,
his red face quite visible as they came up to
his shoulder.

In an instant Mr Bunker seized the Baron
by the arm, pulled him round, and began to
walk hastily back again.

"Vat for zis.?" said the baroK. in great
astonishment

i >i

122

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" We have come too far, thanks to this in-
fernal fog. We must cross the street and take
the first turning on the other side. I must
apologise, Baron, for my absence of mind."

The cab passed by and the red-faced man
strolled on.

" Like lookin' for a needle in a bloomin' hay-
stack," he said to himself. " I might as well
go back to Clank wood, 'E's a good riddance,
I say,"

123

CHAPTER IV.

The Baron and Mr Bunker discussed their
dinner with the relish of approving connois-
seurs. Mr Bunker commended the hock, and
suggested a second bottle ; the Baron praised
the enMes^ and insisted on another helping.
The frequent laughter arising from their table
excited general remark throughout the room,
and already the waiters were whispering to
the other guests that this was a German
nobleman of royal blood engaged in a diplo-
matic mission of importance, and his friend
a ducal member of the English Cabinet, at
present, for reasons of state, incognito.

* Bonker ! " exclaimed the Baron, " I am in
zat frame of head I vant a romance, an ad-
venture " (lowering his voice a little), " mit a
beautiful lady, Bonker."

** It must be a romance. Baron ? "

**A novel, a story to tell to mine frients.

124

IHE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

a strange city r»ian exuects strange

" Well, I'll do my best for you, but I confess
the provision of romantic adveiitures is a little
outside tne programme we've arrp.nged."

** Ha, ha ! Ve shall see, ve shall see,
Bonker ! "

They arrived at the Corinthian Theatre
about the middle of the first act, for, as Mr
Bunker explained, it is always well to produce
a good first impression, and few more effective
means can be devised than working one's way
to the middle of a line of stalls with the play
already in progress.

Hardly were tliey seated when the Baron
drove his elbow into his friend's ribs (draped
for the night, it may be remarked, with one of
the Baron's spare dress-coats) and exclaimed
in an excited whisper, " Next to you, Bonker !
Ach, zehr hiipsch ! "

Even before this hint Mr Bunker had
observed that the lady on the other side of
him was possessed of exceptional attractions.
For a little time he studied her out of the
corners of his eyes. He noticed that the stall*
on the farther side of her was empty, that shn:.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

125

once or twice looked round as thou^^h she ex
pected somebody, and that she seemed not
aho^ether unconscious of her new neighbours.
He further observed that her face was of i.
type that is more usually engao^ed in attack
than defence.

Then he whispered, " Would you like t(
know her ? "

" Ach, yah ! " replied the Baron, eagerly.
" Bot— can you ? "

Mr Bunker smiled confidently. A few
minutes later he happened to let his pro-
gramme fall into her lap.

" I beg your pardon," he whispered, softly,
and glanced into her eyes with a smile ready.

His usual discernment had not failed him.
She smiled, and instantly he produced his.

A little later her opera-glasses happened
to slip from her hand, and though they only
slipped slowly, it was no doubt owing to his
ready presence of mind that their fall was
averted.

This time their fingers happened to touch,
and they smiled without an apology.

He leant towards her, looking, however, at
the play. They shared a laugh over a joke

126

'IHK LUNATIC AT LAKGE.

that she mi"fht have been excused for not
understandiiiir ; presently a criticism of some
situation escaped him inadvertently, and she
smiled again ; soon after she gave an exclam-
ation and he answered sympathetically, and
at the end of the act the curtain came down
on an acquaintance already begun. As the
lights were turned up, and here and there
men began to go out, she again looked at
the entrances in some apparent concern, either
lest some one should not come in or lest some
one should.

" He is late," said Mr Bunker, smiling.

She gave a very enticing look of surprise,
and consented to smile back before she coyly
looked away again.

"An erring husband, I presume."

She admitted that it was in fact a husband
who had failed her.

"But," she added, "I'm afraid — I mean I
expect he'll come in after the next act. It's
so tiresome of him to disappoint me like
this."

Mr Bunker expressed the deepest sympathy
with her unfortunate predicament.

" He has his ticket, of course ? "

THK LUNATIC AI LAKCiE.

127

But it seemed that she had both the tickets
with her. an arranL^ement which he immedi-
ately denounced as likely to lead to difficul-
ties when her husband arrived. He furtlier,
in the most obliging; manner, suc^gested that
he should take the ticket for the other seat
to the booking office and leave instructions
for its being given to tne gentleman on his
arrival. The lady gave him a curious little
glance that seemed to imply a mixture of
doubt as to his motives witii confidence in
his abilities, and then with many thanks agreed
to his suggestion. Mr Bunker took the ticket
and rose at once.

" That I may be sure you are in good com-
pany while I am away," said he, " permit me
to introduce my friend the Baron Rudolph
von Blitzenberg."

And the Baron promptly took his vacant seat.

On his return Mr Bunker found his friend
wreathed in smiles and engaged in the most
animated conversation with the lady, and before
the last act was over, he gathered from such
scraps of conversation as reached his ears that
Rudolph von Blitzenberg had little to learn in
one department of a nobleman's duties.

■

128

THE LUNAHC AT LAKGK.

" I wonder where my husband can be," the
lady whispered.

" Ach, heed him not, fair lady," replied the
Baron. *' Am I not instead of a hosband •* "

" I'm afraid you're a very naughty man.
Baron."

" Ven I am viz you," the gallant Baron an-
swered, " I forget myself all bot your charms."

These advances being made in the most
dulcet tones of which the nobleman was master,
and accompanied by the most enamoured ex-
pression, it is not surprising that the lady per-
mitted herself to listen to them with perhaps
too ready an ear. What Mr Bunker'? arrange-
ment with the booking clerk had been was
never quite clear, but certainly the erring
husband failed to make his appearance at all,
and at the last fall of the curt«>in she was easily
persuaded to let the Baron escort her home.

*' I know I ought not, but if a husband de-
serts one so faithlessly, what can I do ? " she
said, with a very becoming little shrug of her
shoulders and a captivating lift of her eye-
brows.

" Ah, vat indeed ? He desairves not so fair
a consort."

■

THE LUNATIC AT LARGK.

129

'* But won't it be troubling you ? "

" Trouble ? Pleasure and captivation ! "

" Excuse me, Baron," said the voice of Mr

Bunker at his elbow ; " if you will wait here, at

the door I shall send up a cab."

"Goot!" cried the Baron, "a zouzand
zanks ! *'

'• I myself," added Mr Bunker, with a pro-
found bow to the lady, "shall say good night
now. The best of luck, Baron ! "

In a few minutes a hansom drove up, and
the Baron, springing in beside his charge, told
the man to drive to 602 Eaton Square.

"Not too qvickly!" he added, in a stage
aside.

^ They reached Trafalgar Square, matters in-
side going harmoniously as a marriage bell,
-—almost, in fact, too much suggesting that
simile.

" Why are we going down Whitehall ? " the
lady exclaimed, suddenly.

" I know not," replied the Baron, placidly.

" Ask him where he is going ! " she said.

Th« Baron, as in duty bound, asked, and the
reassuring reply, - All right, sir," came back
through the hole in the roof.

i 1

130

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" 1 seem to know that man's voice," the lady
said. "He must have driven me before."

"To me all ze English speak ze same," re-
plied the Baron. " All bot you, my fairest, viz
your sound like a— vat you call ? — fiddle, is it ? "

Though his charmer had serious misgivings
regarding their cabman's topographical know-
ledge, the Baron's company proved so absorb-
ing that it was not till they were being rapidly
driven over Vauxhall Bridge that she at last
took alarm. At first the Baron strove to
soothe her by the most approved Teutonic
blandishments, but in time he too began to
feel concerned, and in a voice like thunder he
repeatedly called upon the driver to stop. No
reply was vouchsafed, and the pace merely
grew the more reckless.

" Can't you catch the reins ? " cried the lady,
who had got into a terrible fright.

The Baron twice essayed the feat, bi.t each
time a heavy blow over the knuckles from the
butt -end of the whip forced him to desist.
The lady burst into tears. The Baron swore
in five languages alternately, and still the cab
pursued its headlong career through deserted
midnight streets, past infrequent policemen and

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. ,31

Stray belated revellers, on into an unknown
wilderness of brick.

" Oh, don't let him murder me ! " sobbed the
lady.

"Haf cheer, fairest; he shall not vile I am
viz you ! Gott in himmel, ze rascal ! Parbleu
und blood ! Goddam ! Vait till I catch him,
hell and blitzen ! Haf courage, dear ! "

" Oh dear, oh dear ! " wailed the lady. '« I
shall never do it again!"

They must have covered miles, and still the
speed never abated, when suddenly, as they
were rounding a sharp corner, the horse slipped
on the frost bound road, and in the twinkling
of an eye the Baron and the lady were sitting
on opposite sides of their fallen steed, and the
cabman was rubbing his head some yards in
front.

'• Teufel ! " exclaimed the Baron, rising care-
fully to his feet. " Ach, mine dearest vun, art
thou hurt .? "

The lady was silent for a moment, as though
trying to decide, and then she burst into
hysterical laughter.

"Ach, zo," said the Baron, much relieved,
"zen yill I see ze cabman."

fT-

I '

132

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

That individual was still rubbing his head
with a niet'ui air, and the Baron was about to
pour forth all his bottled -up indignation, when
at the sight of the driver's face he started back
in blank astonishment.

"Bonker!"

'* It is I indeed, my dear Baron," replied that
gentleman, politely. '* I must ask a thousand
pardons for causing you this trifling incon-
venience. As to your friend, I don't know
how I am to make my peace with her."

'• Bot — bot vat means zis } " gasped the
Baron.

" I was merely endeavouring to provide the
spice of romance you required, besides giving
you the opportunity of making the lady's better
acquaintance. Can I do anything more for
you. Baron .•* And you, my dear lady, can I
assist you in any way ? "

Both, speaking at once and with some heat,
gave a decidedly affirmative answer.

" Where are we ? " asked the lady, who
hovered between fright and indignation.

Mr Bunker shrugged his shoulders.

" It would be rash to hazard an opinion,"
he replied.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

133

the

»i

"Well!" cried the lady, her indignation
quite overcoming her friorht. " Do you mean
to^ say you've brought us here against our
wills and probably got me into dreadful
trouble, and you don't even know where we
are?"

Mr Bunker looked up at the heavens with
a studious air.

" One ought to be able to tell something of
our whereabouts from one of those stars." he
replied; "but, to tell the truth, I don't quite
know which. In short, madame, it is not from
want of goodwill, but merely through ignorance,
that I cannot direct you."

The lady turned impatiently to the Baron.

" Youve helped to get me into this mess," she
said, tartly. '' What do you propose to do ? "

" My fairest "

'* Don't !" she interrupted, stamping her foot
on the frosty road, and then inconsequently
burst into tears. The Baron and Mr Bunker
looked at one another.

^ " It is a fine night for a walk, and the cab,
I'm afraid, is smashed beyond hope of redemp-
tion. Give the lady your arm, Baron; we
must eventually arrive somewhere."

■

H if! li:

li ;

134

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

There was really nothing else for it, so
leaving the horse and cab to be recovered
by the first policeman who chanced to pass,
they set out on foot. At last, after half an
hour's ramble through the solitudes of South
London, a belated cab was hailed and all three
got inside. Once on her way home, the lady's
indignation again gave way to fright.

"What^w I to do? What ^w I to do?"
she wailed. " Oh, whatever will my husband
say ? "

In his most confident and irresistible manner
Mr Bunker told her he would make matters
all right for her at whatever cost to himself;
and so infectious was his assurance, that, when
at last they reached Eaton Square, she allowed
him to come up to the door of number
602. The Baron prudently remained in the
cab, for, as he explained, "My English, he is
unsafe."

After a prolonged knocking and ringing the
door at length opened, and an irascible-looking,
middle-aged gentleman appeared, arrayed in a
dressing-gown.

" Louisa ! " he cried. ** What the dev —
where on earth have you been ? The police

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

135

are looking for you all over London. And
may I venture to ask who this is with you ? "
Mr Bunker bowed slightly and raised his
hat.

" My dear sir, ' he said, " we found this lady
in a lamentable state of intoxication in the
Tottenham Court Road, and as I understand
you have a kind of reversionary interest in her,
we have brought her here. As for you, sir,
your appearance is so unprepossessing that
I am unable to remain any longer. Good
night," and raising his hat again he entered
the cab and drove off, assuring the Baron that
matters were satisfactorily arranged.

"So you have had your adventure, Baron,"
he added, with a smile.

For a minute or two the Baron was silent.
Then he broke into a cheerful guffaw, " Ha,
ha, ha ! You are a fonny devil, Bonker I Ach,
bot it vas pleasant vile it lasted 1 '*

I ill

t 1

'\ 1 1

136

CHAPTER V.

A FEW days passed in the most entertaining
manner. A menu of amusements was regu-
larly prepared suitable to a catholic taste, and
at every turn the Baron was struck by the
enterprise and originality of his friend. He
had, however, a national bent for serious in-
quiry, and now and then doubts crossed his
mind whether, with all his moral drawing, he
was acquiring quite as much solid information
as he had set out to gain. This idea grew
upon him, till one morning, after gazing for
some time at the English newspaper he always
made a point of reading, he suddenly exclaimed,
" Bonker, I haf a doubt ! "

"I have many," replied Mr Bunker, "in
fact, I have few positive ideas left."

" Bot mine is a particul^vir doubt. Do I lairn
enoff?"

*• My own conception of enough learning,

THE LUNAllC Ar LARGE.

137

Baron, is a thing like a threepenny-bit — the*
smallest coin one can do one's niarkctino- with."

"And yet,' said the Baron, solemnly, "for
my own share, I am not satisfied. I vould
lairn more of ze British institutions ; so far I
haf lairned of ze pleasures only."

"My dear Baron, they are the British in-
stitutions.'*

The Baron shook his head and fell to his
paper again, while Mr Bunker stretched him
self on the sofa and gazed through his cigar-
smoke at the ceiling. Suddenly the Baron
gave an exclamation of horror.

" My dear Baron, what is the matter ? "

•• Yet anozer outrage ! " cried the Baron.
•* Zese anarchists, zey are too scandalous. At
all ze stations zere are detectives, and all ze
ships are being vatched. Ach, it is terrible ! "

Mr Bunker seemed struck with an idea, for
he stared at the ceiling without making any
reply, and his eyes, had the Baron seen them,
twinkled curiously.

At last the Baron laid down his paper.

•• Veii, vat shall ve do ? ' he asked.

" Let us come first to Liverpool Street
Station, if you don't mind, Baron," his friend

{i I

1
I

138

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

sucT^rested. *' I have something in the cloak-
room there I want to pick up.'

" My dear Bonker. I shall gjo vere you will;
bot remember I vant to-day more instrogtion
and I<!ss entertainment."

" You wish to see the practical side of
En^rjish life.?"

" Yah — zat is, yes.''

Mr Hunker smiled.

" Then I must entertain myself."

As they drove down he was in his wittiest
humour, and the Baron, in spite of his desire
for instruction, was more charmed with his
friend than ever.

"Vat fonny zing vill you do next, eh.?" he
asked, as they walked arm - in - arm into the
station.

" I am no more the humourist, my dear
Baron, — I shall endeavour to edify you."

They had arrived at a busy hour, when the
platforms were crowded with passengers and
luggage. A train had just come in, and around
it the bustle was at its height, and the con-
fusion most bewildering.

"Wait for me here." said Mr Bunker; "I
shall be back in a minute."

IHE LUNAIIC AT LARGE.

139

sar

He started in the direction of the cloak-
room, and then, doublinir back through the
crowd, walked down the platform and stopped
opposite a luggage- van. An old gentleman,
beside himself with irritation, was struggling
with the aid of a porter to collect his lug-
gage, and presently he left the pile he had
got together and made a rush in the direc-
tion of a large portmanteau that was just being
tumbled out. Instantly Mr Bunker picked up
a handbag from the heap and walked quickly
off with it.

" Here you are, Baron," he said, as he came
up to his friend. "I find there is something
else I must do, so do you mind holding this
bag for a few minutes ? If you will walk up
and down in front of the refreshment-rooms
here, I'll find you more easily. Is it troubling
you too much ? "

'• Not vun bit, Bonker. I am in your sair-

• I)
vice.

He put the bag into the Baron's hand

with his pleasantest smile, and turned away.

Rounding a corner, he came cautiously back

again through the crowd and stepped up to a

policeman.

{ '

140

THK LUNATIC AT LARGE.

"Keep your eve on that man. officer," lie
said, in a lovr confidential voice, and an air of
quiet authority, "and put vour plain - clothes'
men on his track, i know him for one of the
most dangerous anarchists."

The man started and stared hard at the
Baron, and presently that unconscious noble-
man, pacing the platform in growing wonder
at Mr Bunker's lengthy absence, and looking
anxiously round him on all sides, noticed with
surprise that a number of quietly dressed men,
with no apparent business in the station, were
eyeing him with, it seemed to ni, an interest
that approached suspicion, in time he grew
annoyed, he returned their glances with his
haughtiest and most indignant look, and finally,
stepping up to one of them, asked in no friendly
voice, " Vat for do you vatch me .'* "

The man returned an evasive answer, and
passing one of his fellow- officers, whispered,
'• Foreign, I was sure of it."

At last the Baron could stand it no longer,
and laying the bag down by the door of the
refreshment - room, turned hastily away. On
the instant Mr Bunker who had watched these
proceedings from a safe distance, cried in a

THE LUNATIC AT LAKtiE.

141

fcse
a

loud and agonised voice. *' Down with your
men, sergeant! Down, he down! It wiii
explode in twenty seconds ! "

And as he spoke he tnrew himself flat on
his face. So infectious were bis commanding
voice and his note of alarm that one after
another, detectives, passengers, and porters,
cast themselves at full length 011 the platform.
The Baron, filled with terror of anarchist plots,
was one of the first to prostrate himself, and
at that there could be no further doubt of
the immi lence of the peril.

The cabs rattled and voices sounded from
outside ; an engine whistled and shunted at
a far platform, but never before at that hour
of the day had Liverpool Street Station been
so silent. All held their breath and heard
their hearts thump as they gazed in horrible
fascination at that fatal bag, or with closed
eyes stumbled through a hasty prayer. Fully
a minute passed, and the suspense was grow-
ing intolerable, when with a loud oath an old
gentlen;an rose to his feet and walked briskly
up to the bag.

" Have a care, sir ! For Heaven's sake
have a care ! * cried Mr Bunker ; but the old

pi'

142

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

i>< .'*

r f

gentleman merely bent over the terrible object,
and, picking it up, exclaimed in bewildered
wrath, " It's my bag! Who the devil brought
it here, and what's the meaning of this d — d
nonsense ? "

" Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ! " roared Mr Bunker ;
while like sheepish mushrooms the people
sprang up on all sides.

'• My dear sir," said Mr Bunker, coming
up to the old gentleman, and raising his hat
with his most affable air, " permit me to con-
gratulate you on recovering your lost property,
and allow me further to introduce my friend
the Baron Rudolph von Blitzenberg."

•* Baron von damned-humbug ! " cried the
old gentleman. "Did you take my bag, sir?
and if so, are you a thief or a lunatic ? "

For an instant even Mr Bunker himself
seemed a trifle taken aback ; then he replied
politely, " I am not a thief, sir."

'* Then what 'ave you been doing ? " demand-
ed the sergeant.

" Merely demonstrating to my friend the
Baron the extraordinary vigilance of the Eng-
lish police."

For a time neither the old gentleman nor

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

143

the
.ng-

nor

the sergeant seemed quite capable of taking
the same view of the episode as Mr Bunker,
and, curiously enough, the Baron seemed not
disinclined to let his friend extricate himself
as best he could. No one, however, could
resist Mr Bunker, and before very loner he
and the Baron were driving up Bishopsgate
Street together, with the old gentleman's
four-wheeler lumbering in front of them.

*' Well, Baron, are you satisfied with your
morning's instruction ? " asked his friend.

" A German nobleman is not used to be
in soch a position," replied the Baron, stiffly.

" You must admit, however, that the object-
lesson in the detection of anarchy was neatly
presented."

** I admit nozing of ze kind," said the Baron,
stolidly.

For the rest of the drive he sat obdurately
silent. He went to his room with the mien
of an offended man. During lunch he only
opened his lips to eat.

On his side Mr Bunker maintained a
cheerful composure, and seemed not a whit
put about by his friena's lack o^ apprecia-
tion.

144

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

*' Anozzer bottle of claret," said the Baron,
gruffly, to a waiter.

Mr Bunker let him consume it entirely by
himself, awaiting the results with patience.
Gradually his face relaxed a little, until all
at once, when the bump in the bottom of
the bottle was beginning to appear above
the wine, the whole room was startled by a
stentorian, "Ha, ha, ha ! "

*' My dear Honker ! " cried the Baron, when
he had finished laughing, " forgif me! I begin
for to see ze moral, ha, ha, ha ! "

I i

'■■i h

CHAPTER VI.

The Baron expressed no further wish for In-
struction, but, instead, he began to show a
desire for society.

" Doesn't one fool suffice ? " his friend asked
"Ach, yes, my vise fool; ha, ha, ha I Bot

sometimes I !iaf ze craving for peoples, museec,

dancmg— m vun vord, society, Bonker ! "
"But this is not the season, Baron. You

wouldn't mix with any but the best society

would you .?"

"Zere are some nobles in town. In my
paper I see Lord zis, Duke of zat, in London
Pairhaps my introdogtions might be here
now."

This suggestion seemed to strike Mr Bunker
unfavourably.

•' My company is beginning to pall, is it,
Baron ?"

" Ach. no. dear Bonker I I vould merely go

146

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

|i ;l

out jost vunce or tvice. Haf you no friends
now in town ? "

An idea seemed to seize Mr Bunker.

" Let me see the paper, ' he said.

After perusing it carefully for a little, he
at last exclaimed in a tone of pleased dis-
covery, " Hullo! I see that Lady Tulliwuddle
is giving a reception and dance to-night. Most
of the smart people in town just now are sure
to be there. Would you care to go, Baron ? "

" Ach, surely," said the Baron, eagerly. *' Bot
haf you been invited, Bonker ? "

" Oh, I used to have a standing invitation to
Lady Tulliwuddle's dances, and I 'm certain she
would be glad to see me again."

" Can you take me ? "

"Of course, my dear Baron, she will be
honoured."

" Goot ! " cried the Baron. " Ve shall go."

Mr Bunker explained that it was the proper
thing to arrive very late, and so it was not till
after twelve o'clock that they left the Hotel
Mayonaise for the regions of Belgravia. The
Baron, primed with a bottle of champagne, and
arrayed in a costume which Mr Bunker had
assured him was the very latest extreme of

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

14;

»»

roper

It till

iotel

The

and

had

e of

fashion, and which included a scarlet watered
silk waistcoat, a pair of white silk socks, and a
lavender tie, was in a condition of cheerfuhiess
verging closely on hilarity. Mr Bunker, tliat,
as he said, he might better serve as a foil to
his friend's splendour, went more inconspicu-
ously dressed, but was likewise well charged
with champagne. He too was in his happiest
vein, and the vision of the Baron's finery ap-
peared to afford him peculiar gratification.

Their hansom stopped in front of a large and
gaily lit-up mansion, with an awning leading to
the door, and a cluster of carriages and footmen
by the kerbstone. They entered, and having
divested themselves of t^eir coats, Mr Bunker
proposed that they should immediately seek
the supper-room.

'* Bot should I not be first introduced to
mine hostess ? " asked the Baron.

" My dear Baron ! a formal reception of the
guests is entirely foreign to English etiquette."

•' Zo ? 1 did not know zat."

The supper-room was crowded, and having
secured a table with some difficulty, Mr Bunker
entered immediately into conversation with a
solitary young gentleman who was consuming

148

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

a plate of oysters. Before thev had exchanged
six sentences the young man had entirely suc-
cumbed to Mr Bunker's address, aided possibly
by the young man's supper.

" Permit me to introduce my friend the Baron
Rudolph von Blitzenberg, a nobleman strange
as yet to England, but renowned throughout
his native land alike for his talents and his
lofty position," said Mr Bunker.

" Ach, my good friend," exclaimed the
Baron, grasping the young man's hand, "das
ist Bonker's vat you call nonsense : bot I am
delighted, zehr delighted, to meet you, and
if you gom to Bavaria you most shoot vid
me ! Bravo ! Ha ! "

From which it may be gathered that the
Baron was in a genial humour.

" Who is that girl ? " asked Mr Bunker,
pointing to an extremely pretty damsel just
leaving the room.

"Oh, that's my cousin. Lady Muriel Hilton.
She's thought rather pretty. I believe." answered
the young man.

" Do you mind introducing me ^ ''

" Certainly," said their new friend. " Come
along."

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

149

the

iKer,
iust

ome

As they were passini; through the room a
little incident occurred that, if the Baron's
perceptions had been keener, might have
given him cause for some speculation. Two
men standing by the door looked hard at Mr
Bunker and then at each oHicr, and as the
Baron passed them he heard one say, ** It
looks devilish like him."

" He has shaved, then," said the other.

"Evidently," replied the first speaker; "but
I thought he was unlikely to appear in any
society for some time."

They both laughed, and the Baron heard
no more.

When they reached the ballroom the band
was striking up a polka, and presently Mr
Bunker, with his accustomed grace, was tear-
ing round the room with Lady Muriel, while
the Baron — the delight of all eyes in his red
waistcoat — led out her sister. In a very short
time the other dancers found the Baron and his
friend's onslaught so vigorous that prudence
compelled them to take shelter alon^r the wall,
and from a safe aistance aamire the evolutions
of these two mysterious guests.

JVlr Bunker was enlivenm^ the monotony

ISO

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

i 'I

of the polka by the judicious introduction of
hornpipe steps, while the Baron, his coat-tails
high above his head, shouted and stamped
in his wild career.

*• Do stop for a minute, Baron," gasped his
fair partner.

'• Himmel, nein!" roared the Baron. '* I
haf gom here for to dance ! Ha, Bonker !
ha ! "

At last Lady Muriel had to stop through
sheer exhaustion, but Mr Bunker, merely
letting her go, pursued his solitary way,
double-shuffling and kicking unimpeded.

The Baron stopped, breathless, to admire
him. Round and round he went, the only
figure in the middle of the room, his arms
akimbo, his feet rat-tatting and kicking to the
music, while high above the band resounded
his friend's shouts of, *' Bravo, Bonker! Wun-
derschon ! Gott in himmel, higher, higher!"
till at length, missing the wall in an attempt
to find support, the Baron dropped with a
thud into a sitting posture and continued his
demonstrations from the floor.

Meanwhile their alarmed hostess was hold-
mg a hasty consi:ltation with her husband, and

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

151

his

l'»

when the music at last stopped and Mr Bunker
was advancing with his most courteous air
towards his late partner, Lord Tulliwuddle
stepped up to him and touched his arm.

" May I speak to you, sir ? ' he said.

"Certainly," replied Mr Bunker. "I shall
be honoured. Excuse me for one moment.
Lady Muriel."

"At whose invitation have you come here
to-night ? " demanded his host, sternly.

•* I have the pleasure of addressing Lord
Tulliwuddle, have I not ? "

"You have, sir."

Mr Bunker bent towards him and whispered
something in his ear.

"From Scotland Yard?" exclaimed his
lordship.

" Hush ! " said Mr Bunker, glancing cau-
tiously round the room, and then he added,
with an air of impressive gravity, " You have
a bathroom on the third floor, I believe .•* "

" I have," replied his host in great surprise.

"Has it a bell .>"

" No, I believe not."

" Ah, I thought so. If you will favour me
by coming up -stairs for a minute, my Lord,

I! ?

152

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

you will avoid a serious private scandal. Say
nothing about it at present to any one."

In blank astonishment and some alarm Lord
Tulliwuddle went up with him to the third
floor, where the house was still and the sounds
of revelry reached faintly.

" What does this mean, sir ? " he asked.

" If I am right in my conjectures you will
need no explanation from me, my Lord."

His lordship opened a door, and turning on
an electric light, revealed a small and ordinary-
looking bathroom.

** Ha, no bell — excellent ! " said Mr Bunker.

*' What are you doing with the key ? " ex-
claimed his host.

"Good night, my Lord. I shall tell them
to send up breakfast at nine," said Mr Bunker,
and stepping quickly out, he shut and locked
the door.

A minute later he was back in the ballroom
looking anxiously for the Baron, but that
nobleman was nowhere to be seen.

" The devil ! " he said to himself. ** Can
f:hey have tackled iiim too ^ "

But as he ran down-stairs a gust of cheerful
laughter set his mind at ease.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

153

ful

"Ha, ha. ha! Vere is ola Bonker .^ He
also vill shoot vid me ! "

" Here I am, my dear Baron," he exclaimed
gaily, as he tracked the voice into the supper-
room.

•' Ach, mine dear Bonker ! " cried the Baron,
folding him in his muscular embrace, " I haf
here met friends, ve are merry ! Ve drink to
Bavaria, to England, to everyzing ! "

The " friends " consisted of two highly
amused young men and two half-scandalised,
half-hysterical ladies, into the midst of whose
supper-table the Baron had projected himself
with infectious hilarity. They all looked up
with great curiosity at Mr Bunker, but that
gentleman was not in the least put about. He
bowed politely to the table generally, and took
his friend by the arm.

"It is time we were going. Baron, I'm
afraid," he said.

" Vat for ? Ah, not vet, Bonker, not yet.
I am enjoying myseif down to ze floor. I
most dance again, Bonker, jost vunce more,"
pleaded the Baron.

"My dear Baron, the noblemen of highest
rank must always leave first, and people are

'? I

154

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

talking of going now. Come along, old
man."

" Ha, is zat so ? " said the Baron. " Zen
vill I go. Good night!" he cried, waving his
hand to the room generally. " Ven you gom
to Bavaria you most all shoot vid me. Bravo,
my goot Bonker ! Ha ! ha ! "

As they turned away from the table, one of
the young men, who had been looking very
hard at Mr Bunker, rose and touched his
sleeve.

** I say, aren't you ? " he began.

" Possibly I am," interrupted Mr Bunker,
"only I haven't the slightest recollection of
the fact."

An astonished lady was indicated by Mr
Bunker as the hostess, and to her the Baron
bade an affectionate adieu. He handed a
sovereign to the footman, embraced the
butler, and as they sped eastwards in their
hansom, a rousing chorus from the two friends
awoke the echoes of Piccadilly.

"Bravo, Bonker! Himmel, I haf enjoyed
myself I " sighed the exhausted Baron.

old

155

CHAPTER VII.

The Baron and Mr Bunker discussed a twelve
o'clock breakfast with the relish of men who
had done a good night's work. The Baron
was full of his exploits. *' Ze lofly Lady
Hilton " and his new " friends " seemed to have
made a vivid impression.

"Zey vill be in ze Park to-day, of course.^"
he suggested.

" Possibly," replied Mr Bunker, without any
great enthusiasm,

" But surely."

" After a dance it is rather unlikely."

"Ze Lady Hilton did say she vent to ze
Park."

" To-day, Baron ? "

" I do not remember to-day. I did dance so
hard I was not perhaps distinct. But I shall
go and see."

As Mr Bunker's attempts to throw cold

156

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

1 1

I .':

water on this scheme proved quite futile, he
made a graceful virtue of necessity, dressed
himself with care, and set out in the afternoon
for the Park. They had only walked as far as
Piccadilly Circus when in the crowd at the
corner his eye fell upon a familiar figure. It
was the burly, red-faced man.

" The devil ! Moggridge again ! " he mut-
tered.

For a moment he thought they were going
to pass unobserved : then the man turned his
head their way, and Mr Bunker saw him start.
He never looked over his shoulder, but after
walking a little farther he called the Baron's
attention to a shop window, and they stopped
to look at it. Out of the corner of his eye
he saw Moggridge about twenty yards behind
them stopping too. He was glancing towards
them very doubtfully. Evidently his mind was
not yet made up, and at once Mr Bunker's
fertile brain beyan to revoive plans.

A little farther on they paused before another
window, and exactly the same thine happened.
Then Mr Bunker made up his mind. He
looked carefully at the cabs, and at last ob-
served a smart-looking young man driving a

THE LUNATi: AT LARGE.

157

fresh, likely horse at a walking pace beside the
pavement.

He caught the driver's eye and raised his
stick, and turning suddenly to the Baron with a
gesture of annoyance, exclaimed, " Forgive my
rudeness, Baron, ( m afraid I mast leave you.
I had clean forgotten an important engagement
in the city for this afternoon."

" Appointment in ze city ? " said the Baron
in consMerable surprise. " I did not know you
had friends in ze city."

" I have just heard from my father's man of
business, and I'm afraid it would be impolitic
not to see him. Do you mind if I leave you
here ? "

" Surely, my dear fellow, I vould not stop
you. Already I feel at home by myself."

" Then we shall meet at the hotel before
dinner. Good luck with the ladies, Baron."

Mr Bunker jumped into the cab, saying only
to the driver, " To the city, as quick as you can."

"What part, sir.?"

"Oh, say the Bank. Hurry up!"

Then as the man whipped up, Mr Bunker
had a glimpse of Moggridge hailing another
cab, and peeping cautiously through the little

IJ:

158

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

window at the back he saw him starting in hot
pursuit. He took hve shillings out of his
pocket and opened the trap-door in the roof.

" Do you see that other cab chasing us, with
a red-faced man inside ? "

'* Yes, sir."

Mr Bunker handed his driver the money.

" Get rid of him, then. Take m.e anywhere
through the city you like, and when he's off the
scent, let me know."

" Very good, sir," replied the driver, crack-
ing his whip till his steed began to move past
the buses and the other cabs like a train.

On they flew, clatter and jingle, twisting like
a snipe through the traffic. Mr Bunker per-
ceived that he had a good horse and a good
driver, and he smiled in pleasant excitement.
He lit a cigar, leaned his arms on the doors,
and settled himself to enjoy the race.

The black lions of Trafalgar Square flew by,
then the colossal hotels of Northumberland
Avenue and the railway bridge? at Charing
Cross, and they were going at a gallop along
the Embankment. He got swift glimpses of
other cabs and foot - passengers, the trees
seemed to flit past like telegraph-posts on. a

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

159

by,

and
ring
long
s of

■

railway, the barges and lighters on the river
dropped one by one behind them : it was a fair
course for a race, with never a check before
Blackfriar's Bridge.

As they turned into Queen Victoria Street
he opened the lid and asked, " Are they still in
sight?"

" Yes, sir ; I'm afraid we ain't gaining much
yet. But I'll do it, sir, no fears."

Mr Bunker lay back and laughed.

" This is better than the Park," he said to
himself.

They had a fine drive up Queen Victoria
Street before they plunged into the whirlpool
of traffic at the Bank. They were slowly
making their way across when the driver,
spying an opening in another stream, abruptly
wheeled round for Cornhill, and presently they
were off again at top speed.

"Thrown them off?" asked Mr Bunker.

*• Tried to, sir, but they were too sharp and
got clear away too. "

Mr Bunker saw that it was going to be a
stern chase, and lauj^hed again. In order that
he might not show ostensibly that he was
running away, he resisted the temptation of

ill

160

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

having another peep through the back, and
resigned liiinself to th(! cliances of the chase.

Through and through the hmes and bye-
ways of the city they drove, and after each
double the answer from the box was always
the same. The cab behind could not be
shaken off.

" Work your way round to Holborn and try
a run west," Mr Bunker suGfaested.

So after a little they struck Newgate Street,
and presently their steed stretched himself
again in Holborn Viaduct.

** Gaining now, cabby ? '*

'• A little, sir. I think."

Mr Bunker sat placidly till they were well
along Holborn before he inquired again.

•* Can't get rid of 'im no ow. Afride it ain't
much good, sir."

Mr Bunker passed up five shillings more.

*• Keep your tail up. You'll do it yet," he
exhorted. *' Try a turn north ; you may bother
him among the squares."

So they doubled north, and as the evening
closed in their wearied horse was lashed
through a maze of monotonous streets and
tarnished Bloom sbury Squares. And still the

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

l6l

well

ain t

ning

shed

and

the

other cab stuck to their trail. But when they
emerged on the Euston Road, Mr Bunker was
as cheerful as ever.

" They can't last much longer," he said to his
driver. *• Turn up Regent's Park way."

A little later he put the usual question and
got the same unvarying answer.

The horse was evidently beginning to fail,
and he saw that this chariot- race must soon
come to an end. The street-lamps and the
shop windows were all lit up by this time, and
the dusk was pretty thick. It seemed to him
that he might venture to try his luck on foot,
and he began to look out for an opening where
a cab could not follow.

They were flogging along a noisy stone-
paved road where there was little other traffic ;
on one side stood an unbroken row of houses,
and on the other were small semi-detached
villas with little strips of garden about them.
All at once he saw a doctor's red lamp over the
door of one of these half villas, and an inspira-
tion came upon him.

**One can always visit a doctor," he said
to himself, and smiled in great amusement at
something in the reflection.

1 62

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

He stopped the cab, handed the man half
a sovereign, and saying only, " Drive away
again, quickly," jumped out, glanced at the
name on the plate, and pulled the bell. As
he waited on the step he saw the other cab
stop a little way back, and his pursuer emerge.

A frowsy little servant opened the door.

** Is Dr Twiddel at home ?" he asked.

•* Dr Twiddel's abroad, sir," said the maid.

"No one in at all, then?"

" Dr Billson sees 'is patients, sir — wen there
his any."

" When do you expect Dr Billson ?"

"In about an hour, sir, *e usually comes
hin."

"Excellent!" thought Mr Bunker. Aloud
he said, " Well, I'm a patient. I'll come in
and wait."

He stepped in, and the door banged behind
him.

i63

CHAPTER VIII.

>mes

** This w*y, sir," said the maid, and Mr Bunker
found himself in the little room where this
story opened.

The moment he was alone he went to the
window and peeped cautiously between the
slats of the Venetian blind.

The street was quiet, both cabs had dis-
appeared, and for a minute or two he could
see nothing even of Moggridge. Then a
figure moved carefully from the shelter of a
bush a little way down the railings, and, after
a quick look at the house, stepped back again.

** He means to play the waiting game," said
Mr Bunker to himself. " Long may you wait,
my wary Moggridge ! "

He took a rapid survey of the room. He
saw the medical library, the rented furniture,
and the unlit gas-stove ; and at last his eye
fell upon a bo;c of cigarettes. To one of these

164

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

he helped himself and leaned his back against
the mantelpiece.

•' There must be at least one room at the
back," he reflected ; *' that room must have a
window, and beyond that window there is
all London to turn to. Friend Moggridge, I
trust you are prepared to spend the evening
behind your bush."

He had another look through the blind and
shook his head.

" A little too light yet, — I'd better wait for
a quarter of an hour or so."

To while away the time he proceeded to
make a tour of the room, for, as he said to
himself, when in an unknown country any in-
formation may possibly come in useful. There
was nothing whatever from which he could
draw even the most superficial deduction till
he came to the writing-desk. Here a heap
of bills were transfixed by a long skewer, and
at his first glance at the uppermost his face
assumed an expression of almost ludicrous be-
wilderment. He actually rubbed his eyes be-
fore he looked a second time.

**One dozen shirts," he read, "four under-
flannels, four pair socks, one dozen handker-

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

165

chiefs, two sleeping-suits — marked Francis
Beveridge ! the account rendered to Dr G.
Twiddel ! What in the name of wonderment
is the meaning of this ? "

He sat down with the bill in his hand and
gazed hard at it.

" Precisely my outfit," he said to himself.

" Am I — Does it ? What a rum thing ! "

He sat for about ten minutes looking hard
at the floor. Then he burst out laughing, re-
sumed in a moment his air of philosophical
opportunism, and set about a further search of
the desk. He looked at the bills and seemed
to find nothing more to interest him. Then
he glarced at one or two letters in the drawers,
threw the first few back again, and at last
paused over one.

" Twiddel to Billson," he said to himself.
'*This may possibly be worth looking at."

It was dated more than a month back from
the town of Fogelschloss.

"Dear Tom," it ran, "we are having an
A I time. Old Welsh is in splendid form,
doing the part to perfection. He has never
given himself away yet, not even when drunk,

K*^

i66

THK LUNATIC AT LARGE.

which, I am sorry to say, he has been too often.
But then old Welsh is so funny when he is
drunk that it makes him all the more like
the original, or at least what the original is
supposed to be.

" Of course we don't dare to venture into
places where we would see too many English.
This is quite an amusing place for a German
town, some baths and a kind of a gambling-
table, and some pretty girls — for Germans.
There is a sporting aristocrat here, in an old
castle, wh*^ is very friendly, and is much im-
pressed with Welsh's account of his family
plate and deer-forest, and has asked us once
or twice to come out and see him. We are
no end of swells, I assure you.

" Ta, ta, old chap. Hope the practice
prospers in your hands. Don't kill all the
patients before I come back. — Ever thine,

"George Twiddel."

, 1
J

; "

'' 1

■ ■ ri

,1,1

" From this I conclude that Dr Twiddel is
on the festive side of forty." he reflected ;
** there are elements of mystery and a general
atmosphere of alcohol about it, but that's all,
I'm afraid."

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

167

He put it back in the drawer, but the bill
he slipped into his pocket.

** And now," thouj^ht he, "it is time I hiade
the first move."

After waiting for a minute or two to make
sure that everything was quiet, he gently
stepped out into a little linoleum-carpeted hall.
On the right hand was the frort door, on the
left two others that must, he thought, open into
rooms on the back. He chose the nearer at
a venture, and entered boldly. It was quite
dark. He closed the door again softly, struck
a match, and looked round the room. It
seemed to be Dr Twiddel's dining- and sitting-
room.

" Pipes, photographs, well-sat-in chairs," he
observed, ''and a window."

He pulled aside the blind and looked out
into the darkness of a strip of back-garden.
For a minute he listened intently, but no
sound came from the house. Then he threw
up the sash and scrambled jut. It was quite
dark by this time : he was enclosed between
two rows of vague, black houses, with bright
windows here and there, and chimney -cans
faintly cutting their uncouth designs among a

1 68

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

few pale London stars. The space between
was filled with the two lines of little gardens
and the ranks of walls, and in the middle the
black chasm of a railway cutting.

A frightened cat bolted before him as he
hurried down to the foot of the strip, but
that was all the life he saw. He looked
over the wall right into the deep crevasse.
A little way off, on the one hand, hung a
cluster of signal-lights, and the shining rails
reflected them all along to the mouth of a
tunnel on the other. Turning his head this
way and that, there was nothing to be seen
anywhere else but garden wall after garden
wall.

" It's a choice between a hurdle-race through
these gardens, a cat-walk along this wall, and a
descent into the cutting," he reflected. " The
walls look devilish high and the cutting devilish
deep. Hang me if I know which road to take."

While he was still debating this somewhat
perplexing question, he felt the ground begin
to quiver under him. Through the hum of
London there gradually arose a louder roar,
and in a minute the head-lights of an engine
flashed out of the tunnel. One after another

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

169

a string of brij^ht carriages followed it, each
more slowly than the carriage in front, till
the whole train was at a standstill below him
with the red signal-lamp against it.

In an instant his decision was taken. At
the peril of life and garments he scrambled
down the rocky bank, picking as he went an
empty first-class compartment, and just as the
train began to move again he swung himself
up and sprang into a carriage.

Unfortunately he had chosen the wrong one
in his haste, and as he opened the door he saw
a comical vision of a stout little old gentleman
huddling into the farther corner in the most
dire consternation.

" Who are you, sir ? What do you want,
sir?" spluttered the old gentleman. "If you
come any nearer me, sir — one step, sir! — I
shall instantly communicate with the guard !
I have no money about me. Go away, sir ! "

*' I regret to learn that you have no money,"
replied Mr Bunker, imperturbably ; " but I am
sorry that I am not at present in a condition to
offer a loan."

He sat down and smiled amicably, but the
little gentleman was not to be quieted so

I -.

170

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

easily. Seeing that no violence was appar-
ently intended, his frifjht changed into re-
spectable indignation.

" You needn't try to be funny with me,
sir. You are committing an illegal act. You
have placed yourself in an uncommonly serious
position, sir."

"Indeed, sir?" replied Mr Bunker. "I
myself should have imai^ined that by remain-
ing on the rails I should have been much
more seriously situated."

The old crentleman looked at him like an
angry small dog that longs to bite if it only
dared.

** What is the meaning of this illegal in-
trusion ? " he demanded. " Who are you ?
Where did you come from ? "

" I had the misfortune, r'r," explained Mr
Bunker, politely, " to drop my hat out of the
window of a neighbouring carriage. While
I was picking it up the train started, and I
had to enter the first compartment I could
lind. I am sorry that my entry frightened
you."

" Frightened me ! " spluttered the old gentle-
man. " I am not afraid, sir. I am an honest

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

171

man who need fear no one, sir. I do not be-
lieve you dropped your hat. It is perfectly
uninjured."

" It may be news to you, sir," replied Mr
Bunker, "that by gently yet firmly passing
the sleeve of your coat round your hat in
the direction of the nap, it is possible to re-
store the gloss. Thus," and suiting the action
to the word he took off his hat, drew his coat
sleeve across it, and with a genial smile at the
old gentleman, replaced it on his head.

But his neighbour was evidently of that
truculent disposition which merely growls at
blandishments. He snorted and replied testily,
"That is all very well, sir, but I don't believe
a word of it."

•• If you prefer it, then, I fell off the tele-
graph wires in an attempt to recover my
boots."

The old gendeman became purple in the
face.

" Have a care, sir I I am a director of
this company, and at the next station I shall
see that you give a proper account of your-
self. And here we are, sir. I trust you have
a more credible story in readiness."

172

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

As he spoke they drew up beside an under
ground platform, and the irascible old gentle-
man, with a very threatening face that was not
yet quite cleared of alarm, bustled out in a
prodigious hurry. Mr Bunker lay back in
his seat and replied with a smile, " I shall be
delighted to tell any story wi'hin the bounds ol
strict propriety."

But the moment he saw the irate director
disappear in the crowd he whipped out too, and
with the least possible delay transferred himself
into a third-class carriage.

From his seat near the window he watched
the old gentleman hurry back with three offi-
cials at his heels, and hastily search each first-
class compartment in turn. The last one was
so near him that he could hear his friend say,
*' Damn it, the rascal has bolted in the crowd ! "
And with that the four of them rushed off to
the barrier to intercept or pursue this suspicious
character. Then the whistle blew, and as the
train moved off Mr Bunker remarked com-
placently, if a little mysteriously, to himself,
"Well, whoever I am, it would seem I'm
rather difficult to catch."

i;3

CHAPTER IX.

I j

Mr Bunker arrived at the Hotel Mayonaise
in what, from his appearance, was an unusually
reflective state of mind for him. The other
visitors, many of whom had begun to regard
him and his noble friend with great interest,
saw him pass through the crowd in the hall
and about the lifts with a thoughtful air. He
went straight to the Baron's room. Outside
the door he paused for an instant to set his
face in a cheerful smile, and then burst gaily in
upon his friend.

" Well, my dear Baron ! " he cried, '* what
luck in the Park ? "

The Baron was pulling his moustache over
an English novel. He laid down his book and
frowned at Mr Bunker.

'• I do not onderstand your English vays," he
replied.

Mr Bunker perceived that something was

p "

174

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

iHi'

very much amiss, nor was he without a sus-
picion of the cause. He laughed, however, and
asked, " What's the matter, old man .-* "

" I vent to ze Park," said the Baron, with a
solemn deliberation that evidently came hardly
to him. '• I entered ze Park. I vas dressed,
as you know, viz taste and appropriety. I vas
sober, as you know. I valked under ze trees,
and I looked agreeably at ze people. God-
dam ! "

•• My dear Baron ! " expostulated Mr Bunker.

The Baron resumed his intense composure
with a great effort.

"Not long vas ven I see ze Lady Hilton
drive past mit ze ozzer Lady Hilton and vun
old lady. I raise my hat — no bow from zem.
* Pairhaps,' I zink, * zey see me not.' Zey stop
by ze side to speak viz a gentleman. I gomed
up and again I raise my hat and I say, ' How
do you do. Lady Hilton ? I hope you are
regovered from ze dance.' Zat was gorrect,
vas it not ? "

" Perfectly," replied Mr Bunker, with great
gravity.

"Zen vy did ze Lady Hilton schream and
ze ozzer Lady Hilton crv. * Ach, zat German

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

175

man ! * And vy did ze old lady schream to ze
gentleman, ' Send him avay ! How dare you ?
Insolence ! * and suchlike vords ? "

" What remarkable conduct, my dear Baron! "
said Mr Bunker.

" Remargable i " roared the justly incensed
Baron. "Is it not more zan remargable ?
Donner und blitzen ! Mon Dieu ! Blood!
I know not ze English vord so bad enoff for
soch conduct."

"It must have been a joke," his friend sug-
gested, soothingly.

•* Vun dashed bad joke, zen ! Ze gentleman
said to me, * Get out of zis, you rasgal ! ' ' Vat
mean you, sare } ' say I. • You know quite
veil/ said he. 'Clear out!' So I gave him
my card and tell him I would be glad to see
his frient zat he should send, for zat I vas
not used to be called zo. Zen I raise my hat
to ze Lady Hilton and say, 'Adieu, madame,
I know now ze English lady,' and I valk on.
Him.mel!"

" What a very extraordinary affair. Baron ! "

The Baron grunted with inarticulate indig-
nation and nearly pulled his moustache out by
the roots. Abruptly he broke out again,

176

THE LUNA IC AT LARGE.

" English ladies ? I do not belitive zey are
ladies ! Never haf I been treated zo ! Vat
do you mean, Bonker, by taking me among
soch peoples ? "

**/, my dear Baron? It was not I who
introduced you to the H ikons. I never saw
them before."

The difficulty of attaching any blame to his
friend seemed to have anything but a soothing
effect on the Baron. You could almost fancy
that you heard his tail lash the floor.

" Zat vas not all," he continued, after a short
struggle vjun his wrath. " I valked on, and
soon I see two of ze friends I made last night
at supper."

-Which two?"

" Ze yong man zat spoke to you ven you rise
from ze table, and vun of ze ladies. Again I
raise my hat and say, 'How do you do ? I
hope zat- you are regovered from ze dance.*
Zat is gorrect, you say ? "

" Under most circumstances."

" Ze man stared at me, and ze voman — I vill
not say lady — says to him zo zat I can hear,
* Zat awful German ! ' Ze man says, ' Zo it is,'
and laughed. ' I haf ze pleasure of meeting

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

17;

his

iar,

ing

you last night at ze Lady Tollyvoddle,' I said.
'I remember,' he said; 'but I haf no vish to
meet you again.' I take out my card to gif
him, but he only said, ' Go avay, or I vill call
ze police ! ' * Ze police ! To me, Haron von
Blitzenberg ! Teufel ! ' I replied."

" And that was all. Baron ? " asked Mr
Bunker, in what seemed rather like a tone of
relief.

" No ; suddenly he did turn back and said,
' By ze vay, who vas zat viz you last night ? '
To vich I replied, * If you address me
again, my man, I vill call ze police. Go
avay ! ' "

" Bravo, Baron ! Ha, ha, ha! Excellent!"
laughed Mr Bunker.

This applause served to reinstate the Baron
a little in his own good opinion. He laughed
too, though rather noisily than heartily, and
suddenly became grave again.

" Vat means zis, Bonker ? Vat haf I done ?
Vy should zey treat me zo ? "

'• Well, you see, my dear Baron," his friend
explained, " I ought to have warned you that
it is not usual in England to address ladies you
have met at a dance without some direct in-

I I

:il

t;^

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

vitation on their part. At the same time, it
is evident that the H ikons and the other rnan,
who of course must be connected with the
Foreign Office, are aware of some sudden
strain in the diplomatic relations between
England and Germany, which as yet is un-
known to the public. Your ancient name and
your high rank have naturally led them to
conclude that you are an agent of the German
Government, and an international significance
was of course attached to your presence in
the Park. I certainly think they took a most
outra<;eous advantage of a trifling detail of
etiquette to repulse you ; but then you must
remember. Baron, that their families might
have been seriously compromised with the
Government if they had been seen with so
prominent a member of the German aristoc-
racy in the middle of Hyde Park."

"Zo?" said the Baron, thoughtfully. "I
begin to onderstand. My name, as you say,
is cairtainly distinguished. Bot zen should I
remain in London ? "

"Just what I was wondering, Baron. What
do you say to a trip down to St Egbert's-on-
Sea ? It's a very select watering-place, and

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

i;9

we might spend a week or two there very
pleasantly."

/' Egxellent ! " said the Baron; "van shall
we start?"

"To-morrow morning."

*• Goot ! zo let it be. 1 am tired of London
and of 7p English ladies' manners. Police to
ze Haron von Blitzenb^rgi Ve shall go to St
Egbert's, Bonkerl"

i .<

((

PART III.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)

'«, ^ ""'^? "^y

^^(5

1.0

I.I

11.25

■flM IIM
" 1^ mil 2.2

2.0

1.8

_u mil 1.6

<p^

>.?

Photographic

Sdences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

ill

t ;

ii '

CHAPTER I.

The Baron and Mr Bunker walked arm-in-arm
along the esplanade at St Egbert's-on-Sea.

"Aha!" said the Baron, "zis is more fresh
zan London ! "

"Yes," replied his friend; "we are now in
the presence of that stimulating element which
provides patriotic Britoni? with music-hall songs,
and dyspeptic Britons with an appetite."

A stirring breeze swept down the long, white
esplanade, threatening hats and troubling skirts ;
the pale -green, south -coast sea rumbled up
the shingle ; the day was bright and pleasant
for the time of year, and drove the Baron's
mischances from his head ; altogether it seemed
to Mr Bunker that the omens were good.
They were both dressed in the smartest of
tweed suits, and walked jauntily, like men who
knew their own value. Every now and then,
as they passed a pretty face, the Baron would

i84

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

% h

I '

say, "Aha, Bonker! zat is not so bad,
eh?"

And Mr Bunker, who seemed not unwilling
that his friend should find some entertaining
distraction in St Egbert's, would look at the
owners of these faces with a prospector's eye
and his own unrivalled assurance.

They had walked up and down three or four
times, when a desire for a dii'ferent species of
diversion began to overtake the Baron. It was
the one kind of desire that the Baron never
even tried to wrestle with.

" My vriend Bonker," said he, *' is it not
somevere about time for loncheon, eh ? "

*' I should say it was precisely the hour."

•' Ha, ha ! zen, let us gom and eat. Himmel,
zis sea is ze fellow to make von hungry ! "

The Baron had taken a private suite of
rooms on the first floor of the best hotel in
St Egbert's, and after a very substantial lunch
Mr Bunker stretched himself on the luxurious
sitting-room sofa and announced his intention
of having a nap.

•* I shall go out," said the Baron. ** You vill
not gom .•* "

*' I shall leave you to make a single-handed

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

185

conquest," replied Mr Bunker. " Besides, I
have a little matter I want to look into."

So the Baron arranged his hat airily, at what
he had perceived to be the most fashionable
and effective English angle, and strutted ofif to
the esplanade.

It was about two hours later that he burst
excitedly into the room, crying, '* Aha, mine
Bonker ! I haf disgovered zomzing ! " and then
he stopped in some surprise. '* Ello, vat make
you, my vriend ? "

His friend, in fact, seemed to be somewhat
singularly employed. Through a dense cloud
of tobacco-smoke you could just pick him out
of the depths of an armchair, his feet resting
on the mantelpiece, while his lap and all the
floor round about were covered with immense
books. The Baron's curiosity was still further
excited by observing that they consisted princi-
pally of a London and a St Egbert's directory,
several volumes of a Dictionary of National
Biography, and one or two peerages and
county family compilations.

He looked up with a smile. " You may
well wonder, my dear Baron. The fact is, I
am looking for a name."

1 86

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

*' A name ! vat name ? "

" Alas ! if I knew what it was I should
stop looking, and I confess I'm rather sick
of the job."

•' Vich vay do you look, zen ? "

" Simply by wading my way through all the
lists of names I could steal or borrow. It's
devilish dry work."

" Ze name of a vriend, is it ? "

"Yes; but I'm afraid I must wait till it
comes. And what is this discovery. Baron ?
A petticoat, I presume. After all, they are
the only things worth finding," and he shut
the books one after another.

"A petticoat, with ze fairest girl inside it!"
exclaimed the Baron, rapturously.

" Your eyes seem to have been singularly
penetrating, Baron. Was she dark or fair, tall
or short, fat or slender, widow, wife, or maid ? "

" Fair, viz blue eyes, short pairhaps but not
too short, slender as a — a — drom-stick, and I
vould say a maid ; at least I see vun stout
old lady mit her, mozzer and daughter I
soppose."

" And did this piece of perfection seem to
appreciate you ? "

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

1B7

•• Vy should I know ? Zey are ze real ladies
and pairtend not to see me, bot I zink zey
notice me all ze same. Not 'lady vriends/
Bonker, ha, ha, ha ! "

Mr Bunker laughed with reminiscent amuse-
ment, and inquired, " And how did the romance
end — in a cab. Baron ? "

*' Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed the Baron ; " better
zan zat, Bonker — moch better ! "

Mr Bunker raised his eyebrows.

"It's hardly the time of year for a romance
to end in a bathing-machine. You followed
the divinity to her rented heaven, perhaps ? "

The Baron bent forward and answered in a
stage whisper, " Zey live in zis hotel, Bonker ! "

" Then I can only wish you joy, Baron, and
if my funds allow me, send her a wedding
present."

**Ach, not quite so fast, my friend! I am
not caught so easy."

"My dear fellow, a week at close quarters
is sufficient to net any man."

*' Ven I marry," replied the Baron, " moch
most be considered. A von Blitzenberg does

not mate viz every vun.

i:k

1 :^ ,

" A good many families have made the

■

§1

I! I (i

i88

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

same remark, but one does not always meet
the fathers-in-law."

" Ha, ha ! ve shall see. Bot, Bonker, she
is lofly ! "

The Baron awaited dinner with even more
than his asual ardour. He dressed with the
greatest care, and at an absurdly early hour
was already urging his friend to come down
and take their places. Indeed after a time
there was no withholding him, and they finally
took their seats in the dining-room before any-
body else.

At what seemed to the impatient Baron
unconscionably long intervals a few people
dropped in and began to study their menus
and glance with an air of uncomfortable sus-
picion at their rieighbours.

" I vonder vill she gom," he said three or
four times at least.

" Console yourself, my dear Baron," his friend
would reply ; " they always come. That's
seldom the difficulty."

And the Baron would dally with his victuals
in the most unwonted fashion, and growl at
the rapidity with which the courses followed
one another.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

189

"Do zey suppose ve vish to eat like

•I

he began, and then laying his hand on his
friend's sleeve, he whispered, " She goms ! "

Mr Bunker turned his head just in time to
see in the doorway the Countess of Grilly(T
and the Lady Alicia h Fyre.

" Is she not fair ? " asked the Baron, excitedly.

** I entirely approve of your taste, Baron.
I have only once seen any one quite like her
before."

With a gratified smile the Baron filled his
glass, while his friend seemed amused by some
humorous reflection of his own.

The Lady Alicia and her mother had taken
their seats at a table a little way off, and at
first their eyes never happened to turn in
the direction of the two friends. But at last,
after looking at the ceiling, the carpet, the
walls, the other people, everything else in the
room it seemed. Lady Alicia's glance fell for
an instant on the Baron. That nobleman
looked as interesting as a mouthful of roast
duck would permit him, but the glance passed
serenely on to Mr Bunker. For a moment it
remained serene ; suddenly it became startled
and puzzled, and at that instant Mr Bunker

IQO

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

!l j !

lui mm

" iii .

turned his own eyes full upon her, smiled
slightly, and raised his glass to his lips.

The glance fell, and the Lady Alicia blushed
down to the diamonds in her necklace.

The Baron insisted on lingering over his
dinner till the charmer was finished, and so
by a fortuitous coincidence they left the room
immediately behind the Countess. The Baron
passed them in the passage, and a few yards
farther he looked round for his friend, and the
Countess turned to look for her daughter.

They saw Lady Alicia following with an
intensely unconscious expression, while Mr
Bunker was in the act of returning to the
dining-room.

" I wanted to secure a table for breakfast,"
he explained.

in!p.:,P

191

h an

• the

CHAPTER II.

The Baron was in high hopes of seeing the
fair unknown at breakfast, but it seemed she
must be either breakfasting in her own room
or lying long abed.

" I think I shall go out for a little constitu-
tional," said Mr Bunker, when he had finished.
" I suppose the hotel has a stronger attraction
for you.*'

" Ach, yes, I shall remain," his friend replied.
"Pairhaps I may see zem."

" Take care then, Baron ! "

" I shall not propose till you return, Bonker ! "

" No," said Mr Bunker to himself, " I don't
think you will."

Just outside St Egbert's there is a high,
breezy sweep of downs, falling suddenly to a
chalky, seaward cliff. It overlooks the town
and the undulating inland country and a great
spread of shining sea ; and even without a spy-

■Ill I

192

THE LUNA lie M LAKCh.

jj;lass you can see sail after sail and smoke-
wreath after smoke - wreath go by all clay
long.

But Mr Bunker had apparently walked
there for olner reasons than to see the view.
He did stop once or twice, but it was only
to scan the downs ahead, and at the sight of
a fluttering skirt he showed no interest in
anything else, but made a straight line for
its owner. For her part, the lady seemed to
await his coming. She gathered her counten-
ance into an expression of as perfect unconcern
as a little heightening of her colour would
allow her, and returned his salute with rather
a distant bow. But Mr Bunker was not to be
damped by this hint of barbed wire. He held
out his hand and exclaimed cordially, "My
dear Lady Alicia ! this is charming of you ! "

'• Of course you understand, Mr Beveridge,
it's only "

" Perfectly," he interrupted, gaily ; " ! un-
derstand everything I should and nothing I
shouldn't. In fact, I have altered little, except
in the trifling matter of a beard, a moustache
or two, and, by the way, a name."

♦• A name ? "

'■

THE LUiNAUC AT LARGE.

un-

•■ I am now Francis Bunker, hut as much at
your service as ever."

•• But why — I mean, have you really chani^rrd
your name ? "

"Circumstances have changed it, just as
circumstances shaved me."

Lady Alicia made a great endeavour to
look haughty. "I do not quite understand,
Mr "

" Bunker — a temporary title, but suggestive,
and simple for the tradesmen."

" I do not understand your conduct. Why
have you changed your name ? "

" Why not ? "

This retort was so evidently unanswerable
that Lady Alicia changed her inquiry.

" Where have you been ? "

" Till yesterday, in London."

" Then you didn't go to your own parish ? "
she demanded, reproachfully.

"There were difficulties," he replied; "in
fact, a certified lunatic is not in great demand
as a parish priest. They seem to prefer them
uncertified."

" But didn't you try ? "

"Hard, but it was no use. The Bishop

I !

194

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

was out of town, and I had to wait till his
return ; besides, my position was somewhat
insecure. I have had at least two remark-
able escapes since I saw you last."

" Are you safe here ? " she asked, hurriedly.

" With your consent, yes."

She looked a little troubled. " I don't know
that I am doing right, Mr Bev — Bunker,
but "

"Thank you, my friend," he interrupted,
tenderly.

" Don't," she began hastily. ** You mustn't
talk like "

*' Francis Beveridge ? " he interrupted.
*' The trouble is, this rascal Bunker bears
an unconscionably awkward resemblance to
our old friend."

•'You must see that it is quite — ridicu-
lous."

" Absurd," he agreed, — " perfectly prepos-
terous. ! laugh whenever I think of it!"

Poor Lady Alicia felt like a man at a
telephone who has been connected with the
wrong person. Again she made a desperate
shift to fall back on a becoming pride.

*• What do you mean ? " she demanded.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

195

** If I mean anything at all, which is always
rather doubtful," he replied, candidly, " I mean
that Beveridge and his humbug were crea'^ures
of an occasion, just as Bunker and his are of
another. The one occasion is passed, and
with it the first entertaining gentleman has
vanished into space. The second gentleman
will doubtless follow when his time is up. In
fact, I may be said to be a series of dissolving
views."

'* Then isn't what you said true ? "

" I'm afraid you must be more specific ; you
see I've talked so much."

" What you said about yourself — and your
work."

He shook his head humorously. " I have
no means of checking my statements."

She looked at him in a troubled way, and
then her eyes fell.

** At least," she said, " you won't — you
mustn't treat me as — as you did."

" As Beveridge did ? Certainly not ; Bunker
is the soul of circumspection. Besides, he
doesn't require to get out of an asylum."

" Then it was only to get away ? " she cried,
burning scarlet.

■;'»

196

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" Let US call it so," he replied, looking
pensively out to sea.

It seemed wiser to Lady Alicia to chi.nge
the subject.

"Who is the friend you are staying with.^"
she asked, suddenly.

"My old friend the Baron Rudolph vOn
Blitzenberg, and your own most recent ad-
mirer," he replied. " I am at present living
with, in fact I may say upon, him."

" Does he know ? "

"If you meet him, you had perhaps better
not inquire into my past history."

" I meant, does he know about — about your
knowing me ?"

" Bless them ! " thought Mr Bunker ; " one
forgets they're not a/ways thinking about us ! "

"My noble friend has no idea that I have
been so fortunate," he replied.

Lady Alicia looked relieved. "Who is
he ? " she asked.

"A German nobleman of great wealth,
long descent, and the most accommodating
disposition. He is at present exploring
England under my guidance, and I flatter
myself that he has already seen and done

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

197

a number of things that are not on most
programmes."

Lady Alicia was silent for a minute. Then
she said with a little hesitation, " Didn't you
get a letter from me ? "

" A letter ? No," he replied, in some
surprise.

" I wrote twice — because you asked me to,
and I thought — I wondered if you were safe."

*' To what address did you write ?"

" The address you gave me."

'* And what was that .'* " he asked, still
evidently puzzled.

" You said care of the Archbishop of York
would find you."

Mr Bunker abruptly looked the other way.

*' By Jove ! " he said, as if lost in speculation,
" I must find out what the matter was. I can't
imagine why they haven't been forwarded."

Lady Alicia appeared a little dissatisfied.

"Was that a rea/ address ? " she asked,
suddenly.

"Perfectly," he replied; "as real as Penton-
ville Jail or the House of Commons." ("And
as likely to find me," he added to himself.)

Lady Alicia seemed to hesitate whether to

i! '

I \

I' »'■ i

198

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

pursue the subject further, but in the middle
of her debate Mr Bunker asked, " By the way,
has Lady Grillyer any recollection of having
seen me before ? "

"No, she doesn't remember you at all."
" Then we shall meet as strangers ? "
" Yes, I think it would be better ; don't you ? **
" It will save our imaginations certainly."
Lady Alicia looked at him as though she
expected something more ; but as nothing
came, she said, " I think it's time I went back."
" For the present then au rewtr, my dear
Alicia. I beg your pardon, Lady Alicia ; it
was that rascal Beveridge who made the
slip. It now remains to make your formal
acquaintance."

" You — you mustn't try ! "
'* The deuce is in these people beginning
with B ! " he laughed. " They seem to do
things without trying."

He pressed her hand, raised his hat, and
started back to the town. She, on her part, lin-
gered to let him get a clear start of her, and
her blue eyes looked as though a breeze had
blown across and ruffled them.

Mr Bunker had reached the esplanade, and

THE LUNATIC AT LAkGE.

199

was sauntering easily back towards the hotel,
looking at the people and smiling now and
then to himself, when he observed with con-
siderable astonishment two familiar figures
strolling towards him. They were none other
than the Baron and the Countess, engaged in
animated conversation, and apparently on the
very best terms with each other. At the sight
of him the Baron beamed joyfully.

"Aha, Bonker, so you haf returned!" he
cried. "In ze meanvile I haf had vun great
good fortune. Let me present my friend Mr
Bonker, ze Lady Grillyer."

The Countess bowed most graciously, and
raising a pair of tortoise -shell -rimmed eye-
glasses mounted on a stem of the same
material, looked at Mr Bunker through these
with a by no means disapproving glance.

At first sight it was evident that Lady
Alicia must "take after" her noble father.
The Countess was aquiline of nose, large of
person, and emphatic :n her voice and manner.

"You are the 'showman,' Mr Bunker, are
)^ou not?" she said, with a smile for which
many of her acquaintances would have given
a tolerable percentage of their incomes.

m I

I I

■ !

200

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

** It seems," replied Mr Bunker, smiling
back agreeably, " that the Baron is now the
showman, and I must congratulate him on
his first venture."

For an instant the Countess seemed a trifle
taken aback. It was a considerable number
of years since she had bten addressed in pre-
cisely this strain, and in fact at no time had
her admirers ventured quite so dashingly to
the attack. But there was something entirely
irresistible in Mr Bunker's manner, partly per-
haps because he never made the mistake of
heeding a first rebuff. The Countess coughed,
then smiled a little again, and said to the
Baron, " You didn't tell me that your show-
man supplied the little speeches as well."

" I could not know it ; zere has not before
been ze reason for a pretty speech," responded
the Baron, gallantly.

If Lady Grillyer had been anybody else,
one would have said that she actually giggled.
Certainly a little wave of scandalised satis-
faction rippled all over her.

"Oh, really I" she cried, "I don't know
which of you is the worst offender."

All this time, as may be imagined, Mr

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

201

Bunker had been in a state of high mystifica-
tion at his friend s unusual adroitness.

"How the deuce did he get hold of her ? "
he said to himself.

In the next pause the Baron solved the
riddle.

" You vil vunder, Bonker," he said, " how
I did gom to know ze Lady Griilyer."

" I envied, certainly," replied his friend, with
a side glance at the now purring Countess.

"She vas of my introdogtions, hot till after
you vent out zis morning I did not lairn her
name. Zen I said to myself, * Ze sun shines,
Himmel is kind! Here now is ze fair Lady

Grillyer — my introdogtion ! ' and zo zat is
how, you see."

" To think of the Baron being here and our
only finding each other out by chance ! " said
the Countess.

" By a fortunate providence for me ! " ex-
claimed the Baron, fervently.

" Baron," said the Countess, trying hard to
look severe, " you must really keep some of
these nice speeches for my daughter. Which
reminds me, I wonder where she can be .•* "

" Ach, here she goms ! " cried the Baron.

'i ' '

202

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

"Why, how did you know her?" asked
the Countess.

"I — I did see her last night at dinnair,"
explained the Baron, turning red.

"Ah, of course, I remember," replied the
Countess, in a matter-of-fact tone; but her
motherly eye was sharp, and already it began
to look on the highly eligible Rudolph with
more approval than ever.

'* My daughter Alicia, the Baron Rudolph
von Blitzenberg, Mr Bunker," she said the
next moment.

The Baron went nearly double as he bowed,
and the flourish of his hat stirred the dust
on the esplanade. Mr Bunker's salutation was
less profound, but his face expressed an almost
equal degree of interested respect. Her mother
thought that when one of the gentlemen was
a nobleman with an indefinite number of
thousands a -year and the other a person of
so much discrimination, Lady Alicia's own
bow might have been a trifle less reserved.
But then even the most astute mother cannot
know the reasons for everything.

203

CHAPTER III.

" Alicia," said the Countess, " it was really a
most fortunate coincidence our meeting the
Baron at St Egbert's."

She paused for a reply and looked expect-
antly at her daughter. It was not the first
time in the course of the morning that Lady
Alicia had listened to similar observations, and
perhaps that was why she answered somewhat
listlessly, " Yes, wasn't it ? "

The Countess frowned, and continued with
emphasis, " I consider him one of the most
agreeable and best informed young men I
have ever met."

" Is he ? " said Lady Alicia, absently.

"I wonder, Alicia, you hadn't noticed it,"
her mother observed, severely; ** you talked
with him most of the afternoon. I should
have thought that no observant, well-bred girl

204

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

would have failed to have been struck with
his air and conversation."

•' I — I thought him very pleasant, mamma."

" I am glad you had so much sense. He
is extremely pleasant."

As Lady Alicia made no reply, the Countess
felt obliged to continue his list of virtues her-
self.

" He is of most excellent family, Alicia, one
of the oldest in Bavaria. I don't remember
what I heard his income was in pfennigs, or
whatever they measure money by in Germany,
but I know that it is more than ^20,000 a-year
in English money. A very large sum nowa-
days," she added, as if ;^ 20,000 had grown
since she was a girl.

" Yes, mamma."

*• He is considered, besides, an unusually
promising and intelligent young nobleman,
and in Germany, where noblemen are still
constantly used, that says a great deal for
him."

"Does it, mamma?"

" Certainly it does. Education there is so
severe that young Englishmen are beginning
to know less than they ever did, and in most

THE LUNATIC A I LARGE.

205

cases that isn't saying mucli. Compare the
Baron with the young men you meet here ! **

She looked at her daughter triumphantly,
and Alicia could only reply, " Yes, mamma ? "

" Compare them and see the difference.
Look at the Baron's friend Mr Bunker, who
ic a very agreeable and amusing man I admit,
but look at the difference ! "

"What is it ?" Alicia could not help asking.

" What is it, Alicia ! It is — ah — it's — er — it
is, in short, the effect of a carefully cultivated
mind and good blood."

" But don't you think Mr Bunker cultivated,
mamma — and — and — well-bred ? "

" He has an amusing way of saying things,
— but then you must remember that the Baron
is doubtless equally entertaining in his native
language, — and possibly a superficial know-
ledge of a few of the leading questions of the
day; but the Baron talked to me for half an
hour on the relations of something or other in
Germany to — er — something else — a very
important point, I assure you."

** I always thought him very clever," said
Lady Alicia with a touch of warmth, and then
instantly changed colour at the horrible slip.

206

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

iii

.'-I

jii'

i
I

■1

t
j

** You always," said the Countess in alarmed
astonishment ; " you hardly spoke to him
yesterday, and — had you met him before ? "

" I — I meant the Baron, mamma."

" But I have just been saying that he was
unusually clever."

'• But I thought, I mean it seemed as though
you considered him only well informed."

Lady Alicia's blushes and confusion deep-
ened. Her mother looked at her with a soft-
ening eye. Suddenly she rose, kissed her
affectionately, and said with the tenderness of
triumph, " My dear girl ! Of course he is ;
clever, well informed, and a most desirable
young man. My Alicia could not do "

She stopped, as if she thought this was per-
haps a little premature (though the Countess's
methods inclined to the summary and de-
cisive), and again kissing her daughter affec-
tionately, remarked gaily, " Let me see, why,
it's almost time we went for our little walk!
We mustn't really disappoint those young men.
I am in the middle of such an amusing dis-
cussion with Mr Bunker, who is really a very
sensible man an4 quite worthy of the Barori's
judgment,"

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

207

Poor Lady Alicia hardly knew whether to
feel more relieved at her escape or dismayed
at the construction put upon her explanation.
She went out to meet the Baron, determined
to give no further colour to her mother's un-
lucky misconception. The Countess was far
too experienced and determined a general to
leave it at all doubtful who should walk by
whose side, and who should have the oppor-
tunity of appreciating whose merits, but Lady
Alicia was quite resolved that the Baron's
blandishments should fall on stony ground.

But a soft heart and an undecided mouth
are treacherous companions. The Baron was
so amiable and so gallant, that at the end of
half an hour she was obliged to abate the
strictness of her resolution. She should treat
him with the friendliness of a brother. She
learned that he had no sisters : her decision
was confirmed.

The enamoured and delighted Baron was
in the seventh heaven of happy loquacity.
He poured out particulars of his travels, his
more recordable adventures, his opinions on
various social and political matters, and at
last even of the family ghost, the hereditary

208

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

carpet-beatership, and the glories of Bavaria.
And Lady Alicia listened with what he
could not doubt was an interest touched
with tenderness.

" I wonder," she said, artlessly, " that you
find anything to admire in England — com-
pared with Bavaria, I mean."

" Two zings I haf not zere," replied the
Baron, waving his hand round towards the
horizon. " Vun is ze vet sheet of flowing
sea — says not your poet so ? Ze ozzer "
(laying his hand on his heart) " is ze Lady
Alicia a Fyre."

There are some people who catch sentiment
whenever it happens to be in the air, just
as others almost equally unfortunate regularly
take hay-fever.

Lady Alicia's reply was much softer than
she intended, especially as she could have
told anybody that the Baron's compliment
was the merest figure of speech.

"You needn't have included me: I'm sure
Fm not a great attraction."

•*Ze sea is less, so zat leaves none," the
Baron smiled,

"Didn't you see anybody — I mean, any-

^ f^

Thf lunaiic at large.

209

thing in London that attracted you — that you
liked?'

** Zat I liked, yes, zat pairhaps for the
moment attracted me; but not zat shall still
attract me ven I am gone avay."

The Baron sighed this time, and she felt
impelled to reply, with the most sisterly kind-
ness, " I — we should, of course, like to think
that you didn't forget us altogether.''

" You need not fear."

Then Lady Alicia began to realise that
this was more like a second cousin than a
brother, and with sudden sprightliness she
cried, " I wonder where that steamer's

going

The Baron turned his eyes towards his
first - named attraction, but for a professed
lover of the ocean his interest appeared
slight. He only replied absently, " Ach,
zo?"

A little way behind them walked Mr
Bunker and the Countess. The attention
of Lady Grillyer was divided between the
agreeable conversation of her companion and
the pleasant spectacle of a fabulous number
of pfennigs a -year bending its titled head

■

210

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

over her daughter. In the middle of one
of Mr Bunker's most amusing stories she could
not forbear interrupting with a complacent
" They do make a very handsome couple ! "

Mr Bunker politely stopped his narrative,
and looked critically from his friend's gaily
checked back to Lady Alicia's trim figure.

" Pray go on with your story, Mr Bunker,"
said the Countess, hastily, realising that she
had thought a little too loudly.

"They are like," responded Mr Bunker,
replying to her first remark — " they are like
a pair of gloves."

The Countess raised her brows and looked
at him sharply.

•• I mean, of course, the best quality."

" I think," said the Countess, suspiciously,
"that you spoke a little carelessly."

"My simile was a little premature } "

" I think so," said the Countess, decisively.

" Let us call them then an odd pair,"
smiled Mr Bunker, unruffled; "and only
hope that they'll turn out to be the same
size and different hands."

The Countess actually condescended to
smile back.

THK LUNATiC AT LARGE.

211

"She is a dear child," r,he murmured.

" His income, I think, is sufficient," he
answered.

Humour was not conspicuous in the Grillyer
family. The Countess replied seriously, " I
am one of those out-of-date people, Mr
Bunker, who consider some things come
before money, but the Baron's birth and
position are fortunately unimpeachable."

" While his mental qualities," said Mr
Bunker, " are, in my experience, almost
unique."

The Countess was confirmed in her opinion
of Mr Bunker's discrimination.

Late that night, after they had parted with
their friends, the Baron smoked in the most
unwonted silence while Mr Bunker dozed on
the sofa. Several times Rudolph threw restive
glances at his friend, as if he had something on
his mind that he needed a helping Land to
unburden himself of. At last the silence grew
so intolerable that he screwed up his courage
and with desperate resolution exclaimed,
*' Bonker ! "

Mr Bunker opened his eyes and sat up,

"Bonker, I am in loff!"

212

THE LUNATIC AT LARCfe.

hi :!'

Mr Bunker smiled and stretched himself out
again.

" I have also been in love," he replied.

" You are not now ? "

"Alas! no."

"Vyalas?"

** Because follies without illusions get so
infernally dull, Baron."

The Baron smiled a little foolishly.

" I haf ze illusions, I fear." Then he broke
out enthusiastically, " Ach, but is she not
lofly, Bonker ? If she will bot lof me back i
shall be ze happiest man out of heaven ! "

" You have wasted no time. Baron."

The Baron shook his head in melancholy
pleasure.

•' You are quite sure it is really love this
time } " his friend pursued.

"Qvite!" said the Baron, with the firmness
of a martyr.

" There are so many imitations."

" Not so close zat zey can deceive ! "

«*Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Mr Bunker.
" These first symptoms are common to them
all, and yet the varieties of the disease are al-
most beyond counting. I myself have suffered

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. 2,3

from it in eight different forms. There was
the virulent, spotted-ali-over variety, known as
calWove ; there was the kind that accompanied
.tself by a course of the Restoration dramatists •
another form I may call the strayed- Platonic
and that may be subdivided into at least two*
then there was " '

" Schtop ! sell top ! " cried the Baron. " Ha
ha, ha! Zat will do! Teufel ! 1 most ex-
amme my heart strictly. And yet. Bonker.
i zmk my loff is anozzer kind— ze reap"

" They are all that, Baron ; but have it your
own way. Anything I can do to make you
worse shall be done."

" Zanks, my best of friends," said the Baron
warmly, seizing his hand ; '« I knew you would
stand by me ! "

Mr Bunker gave a little laugh, and returning
the nressure, replied, " My dear fellow, I'd do
ng to oblige a friend in such an inter-
condition."

anythi

.■■*i

214

CHAPTER IV.

The Baron was a few minutes late in joining
the party at lunch, and when he appeared he
held an open letter in his hand. It was only
the middle of the next day, and yet he could
have sworn that last night he was comparatively
whole-hearted, he felt so very much more in
love already.

" Yet anozzer introdogtion has found me
out," he said as he took his seat. " I have
here a letter of invitation vich I do not zink
I shall accept."

He threw an amorous glance at Lady Alicia,
which her watchful mother rightly interpreted
as indicating the cause of his intended refusal.

" Who is it this time ? " asked Mr Bunker.

"Sir Richard Brierley of Brierley Park,
Dampshire. Is zat how you pronounce it .•* "

"Sir Richard Brierley!" exclaimed the
Countess ; " why, Alicia and I are going to

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

215

visit some relatives of ours who live only
six miles from Brierley Park ! When has he
asked you, Baron ? "

•' Ze end oi next week."

"How odd ! We are going down to Damp-
shire at the end of next week too. You must
accept, Baron ! "

*' I shall ! " exclaimed the overjoyed Baron.
"Shall ve go, Bonker ? "

" I'm not asked, I'm afraid."

" Ach, hot zat is nozzing. I shall tell
him."

" As you please, Baron," replied Mr Bunker,
with a half glance at Lady Alicia.

The infatuated Baron had already begun to
dread the inevitable hour of separation, and
this piece of good fortune put him into the
highest spirits. He felt so amiable towards
the whole world that when the four went out
for a stroll in the afternoon he lingered for
a minute by Lady Grillyer's side, and in that
minute Mr Bunker and Lady Alicia were out
of hail ahead. The Baron's face fell.

" Shall I come down to this place ^ " said
Mr Bunker.

"Would you like to?"

2l6

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" I should be sorry," he replied, " to part
with — the Baron."

Lady Alicia had expected a slightly different
ending to this sentence, and so, to tell the
truth, Mr Bunker had intended.

" Oh, if you can't stay away from the Baron
you had better go."

"It is certainly very hard to tear myself
away from so charming a person as the Baron ;
perhaps you can feel for me ? "

'• I think he is very — nice."

"He thinks you very nice."

*' Does he ? " said Lady Alicia, with great
indifference, and a moment later changed the
subject.

Meanwhile the Baron was growing very
uneasy. Of course it was quite natural that
Mr Bunker should find it pleasant to walk
for a few minutes by the side of the fairest
creature on earth, and very possibly he was
artfully pleading his friend's cause. Yet the
Baron felt uneasy. He remembered Mr
Bunker's invariable success with the gentler
sex, his wit, his happy smile, and his good
looks ; and he began to wish most sincerely
that these fascinations wer^ being exercised,

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

217

o part

fife rent
ill the

Baron

myself
Jaron ;

great
d the

very
1 that

walk
airest
J was
t the
Mr
intler
good
erely
cised

on the now somewhat breathless Countess, for
his efforts to overtake the pair in front had
both annoyed and exhausted Lady Grillyer.

" Need we walk quite so fast, Baron ? " she
suggested ; and Lady Grillyer's suggestions
were of the kind that are evidently meant to
be acted upon.

*'Ach, I did forged," said the Baron, ab-
sently, and without further remark he slackened
his pace for a few yards and then was off
again.

" You were telling me," gasped the Countess,
"of something you thought of — doing when —
you went^home."

"Zo.> Oh yes, it vas— Teufel ! I do not
remember."

" Really, Baron," said the Countess, decidedly,
" I cannot go any farther at this rate. Let us,
turn. The others will be turning too, in a,
minute."

In fact the unlucky Baron had clean run.
Lady Grillyer's maternal instincts off their
feet, and he suffered for it by seeing nothing
of either his friend or his charmer for aa
hour and a half.

That night he accepted Sir Richard's invi-.

2l8

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

I '

ill i

tation, but said nothing whatever about bring-
ing a friend.

For the next week Rudolph was in as
many states of mind as there were hours in
each day. He walked and rode and drove
with Lady Alicia through the most romantic
spots he could find. He purchased a large
assortment of golf-clubs, and under her tuition
essayed to play that most dangerous of games
for mixed couples. In turn he broke every
club in his set; the cavities he hewed in the
links are still pointed out to the curious ; but
the heart of the Lady Alicia alone he seemed
unable to damage. There was always a mo-
ment at which his courage failed him, and
in that fatal pause she invariably changed
the subject with the most innocent air in
the world.

Every now and then the greenest spasms
of jealousy would seize him. Why did she
elect to disappear with Mr Bunker on the
very morning that he had resolved should
settle his fate ? It is true he had made the
same resolution every morning, but on this
particular one he had no doubt he would
have put his fate to the touch. And why on

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

219

a certain moonlio^ht evening was he left to the
unsentimental company of the Countess ?

He made no further reference to the visit to
Brierley Park ; in fact he shunned discussion of
any kind with his quondam bosom friend.

The time slipped past, till the visit to St
Egbert's was almost at an end. On the day
after to-morrow all four were going to leave
(where Mr Bunker was going, his friend
never troubled to inquire).

They sat together latish in the evening in
the Baron's room. That very afternoon Lady
Alicia had spent more time in Mr Bunker's
society than in his, and the Baron felt that
the hour had come for an explanation.

** Bonker, I haf a suspcction ! " he exclaimed,
suddenly. "It is not I, bot you, who are ze
friend to ze beautiful Lady Alicia. You are
not doing me fair!"

"My dear Baron ! "

"It is so : you are not doing me fair," the
Baron reiterated.

"My dear fellow," replied Mr Bunker, "it
is you are so much in love that you have
lost your wonted courage. You don't use
your chances."

iir

HI '

i ill i i

220

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

•* I do not get zem."

" Nonsense, Baron ! I haven't spent one
hour in Lady Alicia's company to your twenty-
four, and yet if I'd been matrimonially inclined
I could have proposed twice over. You've had
the chance of being accepted fifty times."

" I haf not been accepted vunce," said the
Baron, moodily.

*' Have you put the question ? "

♦• I haf not dared."

'• Well, my dear Baron, whose fault is that ?"

The Baron was silent.

*• Ask her to-morrow."

" No, Bonker," said the Baron, sadly ; *• she
treats me not like a lover. She talks of
friendship. I do not vish a frient ! "

Mr Bunker looked thoughtfully up at the
ceiling. " You don't think you have touched,
her heart .•* " he asked aX lengthi,

" I fear not."

"You must try an infallible recipe for
winning a woman's heart. You must be in
trouble."

" In trouble ! "

" I have tried it once myself, with great,
success.!'

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

321

nt one
twenty-
nclined
ve had

id the

hat ? "

"she
ks of

t the
iched

for
e in

jreat

" Bot how ? "

"You must fall ill." '

" Bot I cannot ; I am too healthful, alas!"

Mr Bunker smiled artfully. " They come
to tea in our rooms to-morrow, you know.
By then, Baron, you must be laid up, ill or
not, just as you please. A grain of Lady
Alicia's sympathy is worth more than a ton
of even your wit."

The standard chosen for the measurement
of his wit escaped the Baron, the scheme
delighted him.

"Ha, Bonker! schon! I tvig ! Goot ! " he
cried. " How shall ve do ? "

" Leave it to me."

The Baron reflected, and his smile died
away.

" Sopposing," he said, slowly, " zey find out ?
Is it vise ? Is it straight ? "

"They can't find out. They go the next
morning, and what's to prevent your making
a quick recovery and pluckily going down to
Brierley Park as the interesting convalescent?
She will know that you've made a dangerous
journey on her account."

The Baron's face cleared again.

222

THK LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" Let US try ! " he said ; •* anyzing is better
zan my present state. Bot, be careful,
Bonker ! "

'• I shall take the most minute precautions,
replied Mr Bunker.

^23

CHAPTER V.

The next morning the two conspirators break-
fasted early. The Baron seemed a little
nervous now that it came so near the
venture, but his friend was as cheerful as
a schoolboy, and his confident air soon put
fresh courage into Rudolph,

Mr Bunker's bedroom opened out of their
common sitting-room, and so he declared
that in the afternoon the Baron must be laid
up there.

" Keep your room all morning," he said,
*'and look as pale as you can. I shall
make my room ready for you."

When the Baron had retired, he threw
himself into a chair and gazed for a few
minutes round his bedroom. Then he rang
his bell ordered the servant to make the
bed immediately, and presently went out to
do some shopping. On the way he sent

'■• !'l

224

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

word to the Countess, telling her only that
the Baron was indisposed, but that in spite
of this misfortune he hoped he should have
the pleasure of their company at tea. The
rest of the morning he spent in his bed-
room, prudently keeping out of the ladies'
way.

When, after a substantial lunch which he
insisted upon getting up to eat, the Baron
was allowed to enter the sick-room, he uttered
an exclamation of astonishment,- -and indeed
his surprise was natural. The room was as
full of flowers as a conservatory ; chairs, ward-
robe, and fireplace were most artistically draped
with art hangings ; a plate filled with grapes,
a large bottle labelled ** Two table-spoonfuls
every half hour," and a medicine-glass were
placed conspicuously on a small table ; and,
most remarkable feature of all, Mr Bunker's
bath filled with water and alive with i^> 'dfish
stood by the side of the bed. A couple of
canaries sang in a cage by the window, the
half-drawn curtains only permitted the most
delicate light to steal into the room, and in
short the whole arrangements reflected the
utmost credit on his ingenious friend.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

225

The Baron was delighted, but a little
puzzled.

"Vat for are zese fishes and ze canaries?"
he asked.

*' To show your love of nature."

" Vy so ? "

*• There is nothing that pleases a woman
more."

** My friend, you zink of everyzing ! " ex-
claimed the Baron, admiringly.

When four o'clock approached he drew a
night-shirt over his other garments and got
into bed. Mr Bunker at first was in favour
of a complete change of attire, but on his
friend's expostulating against such a thorough
precaution, he admitted that it would be
perhaps rather like the historic blacking of
Othello.

" Leave it all to me, my dear Baron," he
said, reassuringly, as he tucked him in ; and
with that he went into the other room and
awaited the arrival of their guests.

They came punctually. The Countess was
full of concern for the "dear Baron," while
Lady Alicia, he could not help thinking,
appeared unusually reserved. In fact, his

I m:

226

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

quick eye soon divined that something was
the matter.

" She has either been getting a lecture from
the Dowager or has found something out,"
he said to himself.

However, it seemed that if she had found
anything out it could have nothing to do
with the Baron's indisposition, for she dis-
played the most ingenuous sympathy, and,
he thought, she even appeared to aim it
pointedly at himself.

" So sudden ! " e .claimed the Countess.

"It is rather sudden, but we'll hope it may
pass as quickly as it came," said Mr Bunker,
conveying a skilful impression of deep concern
veiled by a cheerful manner.

" Tell me honestly, Mr Bunker, is it
dangerous?" demanded the Countess.

Mr Bunker hesitated, gave a half-hearted
laugh, and replied, ** Oh dear, no ! that is —
at present. Lady Grillyer, we have really no
reason to be alarmed."

'• I am so sorry," murmured Lady Alicia.

Her mother looked at her approvingly.

" Poor Baron ! " she said, in a tone of the
greatest commiseration.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

227

" So far from home ! " sighed Mr Bunker
*• And yet so cheerful through it all," he added.

" What did you say was the matter ? " asked
the Countess.

Mr Bunker had thought it both wiser and
more effective to maintain a little mystery
round his friend's malady.

" The doctor hasn't yet given a decided
opinion," he replied.

" Can't we do anything ? " said Lady Alicia,
softly.

Mr Bunker thought the guests were nearly
worked up to the proper pitch of sympathy.

" Poor Rudolph ! " he exclaimed. "It would
cheer him immensely, I know, and ease my
own anxiety as well, if you would venture
in to see him for a few minutes. In such
a case there is no sympathy so welcome as
a woman's."

The Countess glanced at her daughter, and
wavered for an instant between those pro-
prieties for which she was a famous stickler
and this admirable chance of completing the
Baron's conquest.

" His relations are far away," said Mr
Punker, Ipoking pensively out of the window.

f-'-

228

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

'* We might come in for a few minutes.
Alicia ? " suggested Lady Grillyer.

" Yes, mamma," replied Lady Alicia, with an
alacrity that rather surprised their host.

With a pleasantly dejected air he ushered
the ladies into the darkened sick-room. The
Baron, striving to conceal his exultation under
a rueful semblance, greeted them with a languid
yet happy smile.

" Ah, Lady Grillyer, zis is kind indeed !
And you. Lady Alicia, how can I zank you?"

"My daughter and I are much distressed,
Baron, to find our host hors de combat^'' said
the Countess, graciously.

"Just when you wanted to go away too!'*
added Lady Alicia, sympathetically.

The Baron emitted a happy Mend of sigh
and groan.

" Alas ! " he replied, " it is hard indeed."

"You must hurry up and get better," said
the Countess, in her most cheering sick-room
manner. " It won't do to disappoint the
Brierleys, you know."

" You must come down iox part of the time,"
smiled her daughter.

These expressions of sympathy so affected

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

229

mutes.

71th. an

shered

The

under

inguid

ideed !

you ? "

ressed,

said

too ! "

•f sigh

said
:-room
It the

time,"

fifected

the Baron that he placed his hand on his brow
and turned shghtly away to conceal his emotion.
At the same time Mr Bunker, with well-timed
dramatic effect, sank wearily into a chair, and,
laying his elbow on the back, hid his own face
in his hand.

Their guests jumped to the most alarmini'
conclusions, and looked from one to the other
with great concern.

"Dear me!" said the Countess, "surely it
isn't so very serious, Mr Bunker ; it isn't t'n-
fectious, is it .>* "

The unlucky Baron here made his first mis-
take : without waiting for his more diplomatic
friend to reply, he answered hastily, " Ach, no,
it is bot a cold."

Lady Grillyer's expression changed.

" A cold ! " she said. " Dear me, that can't
be so very serious. Baron."

" It is a bad cold," said the Baron.

By this time the ladies' eyes were growing
more used to the dim light, and Mr Bunker
could see that they were taking rapid stock of
the garnishings.

"This, I suppose, is your cough -mixture,"
said the Countess, examining the bottle.

( ■ ^ !l

J ii'

|!: P

1; m

1
!

; iwK

i ^H

^^B

230

THE LUNATIC AT LARcK.

The Baron incautiously admitted it was.

"Two table - spoonfuls every half hour!"
she exclaimed ; " why, I never heard of
taking a cough - mixture in such doses.
Besides, your cough doesn't seem so very
bad, Baron."

" Ze doctor told me to take it so," replied
the Baron.

The Countess turned towards Mr Bunker
and said, with a touch of suspicion in her voice,
" I thought, Mr Bunker, the doctor had given
no opinion."

The Baron threw a glance of intense ferocity
at his friend.

"In the Baron's desire to spare your feel-
ings," replied Mr Bunker, gravely, "he has
been a little inaccurate ; that is not precisely
an ordinary cough-mixture."

" Oh," said the Countess.

Lady Alicia's attention had been strongly
attracted by the bath, and suddenly she ex-
claimed, " Why, there are goldfish in it ! "

The Baron's nerve was fast deserting him.

"Ze doctor ordered zem," he began — "I
mean, I am fond of fishes."

The Countess looked hard at the unhappy

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

231

young man, and then turned severely to his
friend.

** What is the matter with the Baron ? " she
demanded.

Mr Bunker saw that there was nothing for
it but heroic measures.

"The dog was destroyed at once," he re-
plied, with intense gravity. " It is therefore
impossible to say exactly what is the matter."

''The dog!'' cried the two ladies together.

*' By this evening," he continued, ** we shall
know the worst — or the best."

" What do you mean .•* " exclaimed the
Countess, withdrawing a step from the bed.

•* I mean," replied Mr Bunker, with a happy
inspiration, " that this bath is a delicate test.
No victim of the dread disease of hydrophobia
can bear to look "

But the Countess gave him no time to finish.
Even as he was speaking the Baron's face had
passed through a series of the most extraor-
dinary expressions, which she not unnaturally
put down to premonitory symptoms.

" It's beginning already ! " she shrieked.
"Alicia, my love, come quickly. How dare
you expose us, sir?"

•il '

232

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

i-!'

" Calm yourselves. I assure you

i»

pleaded Mr Bunker, coming hastily after them,
but they were at the door before him.

The hapless Baron could stand it no longer.
Crying, "No, no, it is false ! " he sprang out
of bed, arrayed in a tweed suit only half
concealed by his night - shirt, and, forgetting
all about the bath, descended with a great
splash among the startled goldfish.

The Countess paused in the half- opened
door and looked at him with horror that
rapidly passed into intense indignation.

" I am not ill ! " he cried. '* It vos zat
rascal Booker's plot. He made me ! I haf
not hydrophobia ! "

Most unkindest cut of all, Lady Alicia went
off into hysterical giggles. For a moment her
mother glared at the two young men in silence,
and then only remarking, ** I have never been
so insulted before," she went out, and her
daughter followed her.

As the door closed Mr Bunker went off
into roar after roar of laughter, but the humor-
ous side of the situation seemed to appeal very
slightly to his injured friend.

" You rascal ! you villain ! " he shouted, " zis

THE LUNATIC AT LAKOE.

233

zat
haf

is ze end of our friendship, Bonker! Do you
use ze pistols ? Tell me, sare ! "

" My dear Baron," gasped Mr Bunker, " I
could not put such an inartistic end to so fine
a joke for the world."

" You vill not fight ? Coward ! poltroon !
I know not ze English name bad enoff for

you

With difficulty Mr Bunker composed him-
self and replied, still smiling : " After all,
Baron, what harm has been done ? I get all
the blame, and the sympathy you wanted is
sure to turn to you."

" False friend ! " thundered the Baron.

*'My dear Baron!" said Mr Bunker, mildly,
" whose fault was it that the plot miscarried ?
If you'd only left it all to me "

" Left it to you ! Yes, I left too moch to
you! Traitor, it vas a trick to vin ze Lady
Alicia for yourself ! Speak to me never-
more!" And with that the infuriated noble-
man rushed off to his own room.

As there was no further sign of him for the
next half hour, Mr Bunker, still smiling to
himself at the recollection, wen: out to take
the air; but just as he was about to descend

! (

1 ) (1

li!

? !

i' !'^'

li i

I! ^

234

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

the Stairs he spied Lady Alicia lingering in a
passage. Mc turned back and went up to
her.

She began at once in a low hurried voice
that seemed to have a strain of anger running
beneath it.

" I got the two letters I wrote you returned
to me to-day through the dead-letter office.
Nothing was known about you at the address
you gave."

" I am not surprised," he replied.

" Then it was false ? "

" As an address it was p*" >ctly genuine,
only it didn't happen to be i»..iiC."

*• Were you ever in the Church ? "

" Not to my personal knowledge."

" Yet you said you were ?"

" I was in an asylum."

She looked up at him with fine contempt,
while he smiled back at her with great
amusement.

" You have deceived mej* she said, '* and
ave treated your other friend — who is

you

far too good for you — disgracefully. Have
you anything to say for yourself ? "
" Not a word," he replied, cheerfully.

THE LUNATIC AT LAKC.K.

235

•' You must never treat me again as — as I
let you."

As a smile played for an instant about his
face, she added quickly, " I don't suppose I
shall ever see you again. In future we are
not likely to meet."

"The lady and the lunatic?" said he.
"Well, perhaps not. Good-bye, and better
luck."

" Good - bye," she answered, coldly, and
added as they parted, " My mother, of course,
is extremely angry with you."

"There," he said with a smile, "you see I
still come in useful."

She hurried away, and Mr Bunker walked
slowly down-stairs and out of the hotel.

"It seems to me," he reflected, "that I
shall have to set out on my adventures again
alone."

■''I

236

CHAPTER VI.

The Baron's natural good temper might have
forgiven his friend, but all night he was a
prey to something against which no ten per is
proof. The Baron was bitterly jealous. All
through breakfast he never spoke a word, and
when Mr Bunker asked him what train he in-
tended to take, he replied curtly, as he went
to the door, " Ze 5.30."

"And where do you go now ? "

" Vat is zat to you ? I go for a valk. I
vould be alone."

" Good-bye then, Baron," said Mr Bunker.
"I think I shall go up to town."

*'Go, zen," replied the Baron, opening the
door ; " I haf no furzer vish to see a treacherous
sponge zat vill neizer be true nor fight, bot jost
takes money."

He slammed the door and went out. If he
had waited for a moment, he would have seen

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

237

a look in Mr Bunker's face that he had never
seen before. He half started from his chair
to follow, and then sat down again and thought
with his lips very tight set.

All at once they broke into a smile that was
grimmer than anything the Baron had known.

*'I accept your challenge, Baron Rudolph
von Blitzenberg," he said to himself; "but
the weapons I shall choose myself."

He took a telegraph form, wrote and des-
patched a wire, and then with considerable
haste proceeded to pack. Within an hour he
had left the hotel.

When a servant, later in the day, was per-
forming, under the Baron's directions, the same
office for him, a series of discoveries that still
further disturbed his peace of mind were joint-
ly made. Not only the more sporting portions
of his wardrobe but his gun and cartridges as
well had vanished, and, search and storm as he
liked, there was not a trace of them to be
found.

" Ze rascal ! " he muttered ; " I did not zink
he was zief as well."

It is hardly wonderful that he arrived at

238

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

i.il:

1 1

i \

Brierley station in anything but an amiable
frame of mind. There, to his great annoyance
and surprise, he found no signs of Sir Richard's
carriage ; there were no stables near, and, after
fuming for some time on the platform, he was
forced to leave his luggage with the station-
master and proceed on foot to Brierley Park.

He arrived shortly before seven o'clock, after
a dark and muddy tramp, and, still swearing
under his breath, pulled the bell with indignant
energy.

" I am ze Baron von Blitzenberg, bot zere
vas no carriage at ze station," he informed the
butler in his haughtiest tones.

The man looked at him suspiciously.

" The Baron arrived this morning," he said.

" Ze Baron ? Vat Baron ? I am ze Baron ! "

" I shall fetch Sir Richard," said the butler,
turning away.

Presently a stout, florid gentleman, accom-
panied by three friends, all evidently very
curious and amused about something, came to
the door, and, to the poor Baron's amazement
and horror, he recognised in one of these none
other than Mr Bunker, arrayed with much
splendour in his own ornate shooting suit.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

239

"What do you want?" asked the florid
gentleman, sternly.

" Have I ze pleasure of addressing Sir
Richard Brierley ? " inquired the Baron, raising
his hat and bowing profoundly.

** You have."

" Zen I must tell you zat I am ze Baron
Rudolph von Blitzenberg."

" Gom, gom, my man ! " interposed Mr
Bunker. " I know you. Zis man, Sir Richard,
has before annoyed me. He is vat you call
impostor, cracked ; he has vollowed me from
Germany. Go avay, man ! "

" You are impostor ! You scoundrel, Bon-
ker!" shouted the wrathful Baron. "He is
no Baron, Sir Richard ! Ha ! Vould you
again deceive me, Bonker?"

"You must lock him up, I fear," said Mr
Bunker. " To-morrow, my man, yoi vill see
ze police."

So completely '^id the Baron lose his head
that he became almost inarticulate with rage :
his protestations, however, were not of the
slightest avail. That morning Sir Richard had
received a wire informing him that the Baron
was coming by an earlier train than he had

• *

f: ':\

240

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

originally intended, and, since his arrival, the
spurious nobleman had so ingratiated himself
with his host that Sir Richard was filled with
nothing but sympathy for him in his perse-
cution. After a desperate struggle the un-
fortunate Rudolph was overpowered and con-
veyed in the undignified fashion known as the
frog's march to a room in a remote wing, there
to pass the night under lock and key.

"The scoundrelly German impostor!" ex-
claimed a young man, a fellow visitor of the
Baron Bunker's, to a tall, military-looking gen-
tleman.

Colonel Savage seemed lost in thought.

"It is a curious thing, Trelawney," he re-
plied, at length, " that the footman who attends
the Baron should have told my man — who, of
course, told me — that a number of his things
are marked ' Francis Beveridge.' It is also
rather strange that this impostor should have
known so little of the Baron's movements as
to arrive several hours after him, assuming he
had hatched a plot to impersonate him."

" But the man's obviously mad."

" Must be," said the Colonel.

The house party were assembled in the

THE LUNAIIC AT LARGE.

241

drawing-room waiting for dinner to be an-
nounced. The bogus Baron was engaged in
an animated discussion with Colonel Savage
on the subject of Bavarian shootings, and the
Colonel having omitted to inform him that he
had some personal experience of these, Mr
Bunker was serving up such of his friend's
anecdotes as he could remember with sauce
more peculiarly his own.

" Five hondred vild boars," he was saying,
"eight hondred brace of partridges, many
bears, and rabbits so moch zat it took five
veeks to bury zem. All zese ve did shoot
before breakfast. Colonel. Aftair breakfast
again ve did go out "

But at that moment his attention was sharply
arrested by a question of Lady Brierley's.

"Has Dr Escott arrived ? " she asked.

The Baron Bunker paused, and in spite of
his habitual coolness, the observant Colonel
noticed that he started ever so slightly.

"He came half an hour ago," replied Sir
Richard. "Ah, here he is."

As he spoke, a well-remembered figure came
into the room, and after a welcome from his.
hostess, the dinner procession started.

'Illii.

lit I

■;

I !

242

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" Whoever is that tall, fair man in front ? "
Dr Escott asked his partner as they crossed
the hall.

" Oh, that's the Baron von Blitzenberg :
such an amusing man ! We are all in love
with him already."

All through dinner the spurious Baron saw
that Dr Escott's eyes turned continually and
curiously on him ; yet never for an instant
did his spirits droop or his conversation flag.
Witty and charming as ever, he discoursed in
his comical foreign accent to the amusement
of all within hearing, and by the time the
gentlemen adjourned to the billiard-room, he
had established the reputation of being the
most delightful German ever seen. Yet Dr
Escott grew more suspicious and bewildered,
and Mr Bunker felt that he was being nar-
rowly watched. The skill at billiards of a
certain Francis Beveridge used to be the object
of the doctor's unbounded admiration, and it
was with the liveliest interest that he watched
a game between Colonel Savage and the
Baron.

That nobleman knew well the danger of
displaying his old dexterity, and to the on-

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

243

3nt ? "
•ossed

berg :
love

n saw
y and
nstant
1 flag,
sed in
iement
le the
>m, he
g the
et Dr
dered,
nar-
of a
object
ind it
tched
1 the

>^er of
e on-

lookers it soon became apparent that this
branch of his education had been neglected.
He not only missed the simplest shots, but
seemed very ignorant of the rules of the
English game, and in consequence he came in
for a little good-natured chaff from Sir Richard
and Trelawney. When the Colonel's score
stood at 90 and the Baron had scarcely reached
25, Trelawney cried, *• I'll bet you ten to one
you don't win, Baron ! "

** What in ? " asked the Baron, and the
Colonel noticed that for the first time he pro-
nounced a w correctly.

•' Sovereigns," said Trelawney, gaily.

The temptation was irresistible.

•• Done ! " said the Baron. With a pro-
fessional disregard for conventions, he bolted
the white into the middle pocket, leaving his
own ball nicely beside the red. Down in its
turn went the red, and Mr Bunker was on the
spot. Three followed three in monotonous
succession, Trelawney's face growing longer
and Dr Escott getting more and more excited,
till with a smile Mr Bunker laid down his cue,
a sensational winner.

His victory was received in silence: Tre-

i 1

iii

!■ ■.■

244

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

lawney handed over two five-pound notes with-
out a word, and the Colonel returned to his
whisky-and-soda. Dr Escott could contain
himself no longer, and whispering something
to Sir Richard, the two left the room.

Imperturbable as ever, Mr Bunker talked
gaily for a few minutes to an unresponsive
audience, and then, remarking that he would
join the ladies, left the room.

A minute or two later Sir Richard, with an
anxious face, returned with Dr Escott.

" Where is the Baron ? " he asked.

" Gone to join the ladies," replied Trelawney,
adding under his breath, " d n him ! '

But the Baron was not with the ladies, nor,
search the house as they might, was there
a trace to be seen of that accomplished
nobleman.

" He has gone !" said Sir Richard.

" What the deuce is the meaning of it ? " ex-
claimed Trelawney.

Colonel Savage smiled grimly and suggested,
" Perhaps he wants to give the impostor an
innings."

" Dr Escott, I think, can tell you," replied
the Baronet.

THE LUiNATIC AT LARGE.

245

"Gentlemen," said the Doctor, "the man
whom you have met as the liaron von Blit-
zenberg is none other than a most cunning and
determined lunatic. He escaped from the
asylum where I am at present assistant doctor,
after all but murdering me ; he has been seen
in London since, but how he came to imper-
sonate the unfortunate gentleman whom you
locked up this afternoon I cannot say."

Before they broke up for the night, the
genuine Paron, released from confinement and
soothed by the humblest apologies and a
heavy supper, recounted the main events in
Mr Beveridge alias Bunker's brief career in
town. On his exploits in St Egbert's he felt
some delicacy in touching, but at the end of
what was after all only a fragmentary and one-
sided narrative, even the defrauded Trelawney
could not but admit that, whatever the de-
parted gentleman's failings, his talents at least
were vvorthy of a better cause.

■ I

f :i! *'

\ "i

246

CHAPfER VII.

The party at Brierley Park had gone at last
to bed. The Baron was installed in his late
usurper's room, and from the clock-tower the
hour of three had just been tolled. Sympathy
and Sir Richard's cellar had greatly mollified
the Baron's wrath, he had almost begun to see
the humorous side of his late experience, as a
rival Mr Bunker was extinct, and with an easy
mind and a placid smile he had fallen asleep
some two hours past.

The fire burned low, and for long nothing
but the occasional sigh of the wind in the trees
disturbed the silence. At length, had the
Baron been awake, he mij^ht have heard the
stealthiest of footsteps in the corridor outside.
Then they stopped ; his door was gently
opened, and first a head and then a whole man
slipped in.

Still the Baron slept, dreaming peacefully of

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

247

last

late

the

athy

his late companion. They were driving some-
where in a hansom, Mr Bunker was telling one
of his most amusing stories, when there came
a shock, the hansom seemed to turn a somer-
sault, and the Baron awoke. At first he
thought he must be dreaming still ; the elec-
tric light had been turned on and the room
was bright as day, but, more bewildering yet,
Mr Bunker was seated on his bed, gazing at him
with an expression of thoughtful amusement.

" Well, Baron," he said, " I trust you are
comfortable in these excellent quarters."

The Baron, half awake and wholly aston-
ished, was unable to collect his ideas in time to
make any reply.

" But remember," continued Mr Bunker,
" you have a reputation to live up to. I have
set the standard high for Bavarian barons."

The indignant Baron at last recovered his
wits.

" If you do not go away at vonce!' he said,
raising himself on his elbows, " I shall raise ze
house upon you ! "

" Have you forgotten that you are talking to
a dangerous lunatic, who probably never stirs
without his razor ? "

' r

lil

^R i

w^bI ^

tv^^H {

248

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

The Baron looked at him and turned a little
pale. He made no further movement, but an-
swered stoutly enough, " Vat do you vant ? "

"In the first place, I want my brush and
comb, a few clothes, and my hand-bag. Events
happened rather more quickly this evening than
I had anticipated."

'* Take zem."

" I should also like," continued Mr Bunker,
unmoved, " to have a little talk with you. I
think I owe you some explanation — perhaps an
apology or two — and I'm afraid it's my last
chance."

" Zay it zen."
' "Of course I understand that you make no
hostile demonstration till I am finished ? A
hunted man must take precautions, you know.'

•• I vill hi you go."

"Thanks, Baron'."

Mr Bunker folded his arms, leaned his back
against the foot of the bed, and began in his
half-bantering way, " I have amused you, Baron,
now and then, you must admit ? "

The Baron made no reply.

" That I place to my credit, and I think few
debts are better worth repaying. On the other

>! t :a

i^ii

I ill

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

249

hand, I confess I have subsistc d for some time
entirely on your kindness. I'm afraid that
alone counterbalances the debt, and when it
comes to my being the means of your taking
a bath in mixed company and spending an
evening in a locked room, there's no doubt the
balance is greatly on your side."

*' I zink so," observed the Baron.

"So I'll tell you a true story, a favour with
which I haven't indulged any one for some
considerable time."

The Baron coughed, but said nothing.

"My biography for all practical purposes,"
Mr Bunker continued, *• begins in that se-
questered retreat, Clankwood Asylum. How
and with whom I came there I haven't the
very faintest recollection. I simply woke up
from an extraordinary drowsiness to find my-
self recovering from a sharp attack of what I
may most euphoniously call mental excitement.
The original cause of it is very dim in my
mind, and has, so far as I remember, nothing
to do with the rest of the story. The attack
was very short, I believe. I soon came to
something more or less like myself; only,
P^ron, the singular thing is, that it was to all.

2 50

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

1. *,

intents and purposes a new self — v/hether
better or worse, my faulty memory does not
permit me to say. I'd clean forgotten who I
was and all about me. I found mysdf called
Francis Beveridge, but that wasn't my old
name, I know."

" Ha ! " exclaimed the Baron, growing in-
terested despite himself.

" And th^ most remarkable thing of all is
that up till this day I haven't the very vaguest
notion what my real name is."

"Zo?" said the Baron. " Bot vy should
they change it ? "

" There you've laid your finger on the
mystery, Baron. Why ? Heaven knows : I
wish I did ! "

The Baron looked at hii i with undisguised
interest.

" Strange ! " he said, thoughtfully.

•* Damnably strange. I found myself com-
pelled to live in an asylum and answer to a
new name, and realiy, don't you know, under
the circumstances I could give no very valid
reason for getting out. I seemed to have
blossomed there like one of the asylum plants.
I couldn't possibly have been more identified

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

251

rhether
les not
who I
' called
ny old

ng in-

f all is
/aguest

should

on the
)ws : I

sguised

f com-
er to a
under
y valid
> have
plants,
entified

with the place. Besides, I'm free to confess
that for some time my reason, taking it all
in all, wasn't particularly valid on any point.
By George, I had a funny time ! Ha, ha,
ha!"

His mirth was so infectious that the Baron
raised his own voice in a hearty "Ha, ha!"
and then stopped abruptly, and said cautiously,
" Haf a care, Bonker, zey may hear ! "

"Howe\or, Baron," Mr Bunker continued,
" out I was determined to get, and out I came
in the manner of which perhaps my friend
Escott has already informed you."

The Baron grinned and nodded.

'• I came up to town, and on my very first
evening I had the good fortune to meet the
Baron Rudolph von Blitzenberg — as perhaps
you may remember. In my own defence.
Baron, I may fairly plead that since I could
remember nothing about my past career, I was
entitled to supply the details from my imagina-
tion. After all, I have no proof that some of
my stories may not have been correct. I used
this privilege freely in Clankwood, and, in a
word, since I couldn't tell the truth if I wanted
to, I quenched the desire."

252

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" You homboo^ ! " said the Baron, not without
a note of admiration.

** I was, and I gloried in it Baron, if you
ever want to know how ample a thing life can
be, become a certified lunatic ! You are quite
irresponsible for your debts, your crimes, and,
not least, your words. It certainly enlarges
one's horizon. Ail this time, I may say, I
was racking my brains — which, by the way,
have been steadily growing saner in other
matters — for some recollections of my pre-
vious whereabouts, my career, if I had any,
and, above all, of my name."

" Can you remember nozing ? "

*' I can remember a large country house
which I think belonged to me, but in what
part of the country it stands I haven't the
slightest recollection. I can't remember any
family,, and as no one has inquired for me, I
don't suppose I had any. Many incidents —
sporting, festive, amusing, and discreditable — I
remember distinctly, and many faces, but there's
nothing to piece them together with. Can
you recall one or two incidents in town, when,
people spoke to me or bowed to me?"

Yes, veil : I vondered zen,

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

253

vithout

if you
ife can
2 quite
:s, and,
nlarges

say, I
a way,
other
y pre-
d any,

house
what
I't the
er any
me, I
ents —
ble— 1
here's
Can
when

" I suppose they knew me. In a general
sort of way I knew them. But when a man
doesn't know his own name, and will probably
be replaced in an ayslum if he's identified,
there isn't much encouragement for greeting
old friends. And do you remember my search
for a name in the hotel at St Egbert's ? "

" Yah — zat is, yes."

" It was for my own I was looking."

" You found it not ? "

" No. The worst of it is, I can't even re-
member what letter it began with. Sometimes
I think it was M, or perhaps N, and some-
times I'm almost sure it was E. It will come
to me some day, no doubt, Baron, but till it
does, I shall have to wander about a nameless
man, looking for it. And after all, I am not
without the consolations of a certain useful,
wo kaday kind of philosophy."

He rose from the bed, and smiled humor-
ously at his friend.

" And now. Baron," he said, " it only re-
mains to offer you such thanks and apologies
as a lunatic may, and then clear out before
the cock crows. These are my brushes, I
think."

if'

254

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

There was still something on the Baron's
mind : he lay for a moment watching Mr
Bunker collect a few odds and ends and put
them rapidly into a small bag, and then blurted
out suddenly, " Ze Lady Alicia — do you loff
her ? "

By Jove!" exclaimed Mr Bunker, "I'd
forgotten all about her. I ought to have told
you that I once met her before, when she
showed sympathy — practical sympathy, I may
add — for an unfortunate gentleman in Clank-
wood. That's all."

" You do not loff her ? " persisted the Baron.

" I, my dear chap ? No. You are most
welcome to her — and the countess."

" Does she not loff you ? "

" On my honour, no. I told her a few early
reminiscences ; she happened to discover they
were not what is generally known as true, and
took so absurd a view of the case that I doubt
whether she would speak to me again if she
met me. In fact, Baron, if I read the omens
aright — and I've had some experience — you
only need courage and a voice."

The bed creaked, there was a volcanic up-
heaval of the clothes as the Baron sprang out

till

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

255

on to the floor, and the next instant Mr
Bunker was clasped in his embrace.

" Ach, my own Bonker, forgif me ! I haf
suspected, I haf not been ze true friend ; you
have sairved me right to gom here as ze
Baron. I vas too bad a Baron to gom ! You
have amused me, you have instrogted, you
have varmed my heart. My dear frient ! "

To tell the truth, Mr Bunker looked, for
the first time in their acquaintance, a little
ill at ease. He laughed, but it sounded
affected.

" My dear fellow — hang it ! You'd make
me out a martyr. As a matter of fact, I've
been such a thorn as very few people would
stand in their flesh. There's nothing to for-
give, my dear Baron, and a lot to thank you
for."

" I haf been rude, Bonker ; I haf insulted
you ! You forgif me ? "

" With all my heart, if you think it's needed,
but "

'* And you vill not go now ? You vill stay
here ? "

*' What, two Barons at once ? My dear
chap, we'd merely confuse tne butler."

256

THF LUNATIC AT LARGE.

"Ach, you vill joke, you hombog! But you
most stay ! "

" And what about my friend, Dr Escott ?
No, Baron, it would only mean breakfast and
the next train to Clankwood."

" Zey vill not take you ven you tell zem I I
shall insist viz Sir Richard ! "

" The law is the law, Baron, and I'm a cer-
tified lunatic. Here we must part till the
weather clears ; and mind, you mustn't say a
word about my coming to see you."

The Baron looked at him disconsolately.

"You most really go, Bonker.^"

" Really, Baron."

*' And vere to ? "

" To London town again by the milk train."

" And vat vill you do zere ? "

*' Look for my name."

" Bot how ? "

Mr Bunker hesitated.

" I have a little clue," he said at last, ** only
a thread, but I'll try it for what it's worth."

*' Haf you money enoff ? "

*' Thanks to your generosity and my skill at
billiards, yes, which reminds me that I must
return poor Trelawney's ten pounds some day.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

257

►ut you

LSCOtt ?

LSt and

^m! I

a cer-
:ill the
: say a

ly.

train.

»>

** only

Ikill at
must
e day.

At present, I can't afford to be scrupulous.
So, you see, I'm provided for."

" Cigars at least, Bonker ! You most smoke,
my friend vizout a name ! "

The Baron, night-shirted and bare-footed as
he was, dived into his portmanteau and pro-
duced a large box of cigars.

" You like zese, Bonker. Zey are your own
choice. Smoke zem and zink of me ! "

•' A few, Baron, would be a pleasant remin-
iscence," said his friend, with a smile, " if you
really insist."

*' All, Bonker, — I vill not keep vun ! I can
get more. No, you most take zem all ! "

Mr Bunker opened his bag and put in the
box without a word.

" You most write," said the Baron, " tell me
vere you are. I shall not tell any soul, bet
ven I can, I shall gom up, and ve shall sup
togezzer vunce more. Pairhaps ve may hal
anozzer adventure, ha, ha ! "

The Baron's laugh was almost too hearty to
be true.

" I shall let you know, as soon as I find a
room. It won't be in the Mayonaise this time!
Good-bye : good sport and luck in love ! "

i:
V t;

ill

258

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" Good-bye, my frient, good-bye," said the
Baron, squeezing his hand.

His friend was half out of the door, when
he turned, and said with an intonation quite
foreign either to Beveridge or Bunker, and yet
which came very pleasantly, ** I forgot to warn
you of one thing when I advised you to try
the ro/e of certified ^unatic — you are not likely
to make so good a friend as I have."

He shut the door noiselessly and was gone.

The Baron stood in the middle of the floor
for fully five minutes, looking blankly at the
closed door; then with a sigh he turned out
the light and tumbled into bed again.

IB!

aid the

', when
n quite
and yet
to warn
to try
t likely

gone,
le floor
at the
led out

PART IV.

CHAPTER I.

The Dover express was nearing town ; even! nor
had begun to draw in, and from the wayside
houses people saw the train roar by Hke a
huge glowworm ; but they could hardly guess
that it was hurrying two real actors to the
climax of a real comidy.

From the opposite sides of a first-class
carriage these two looked cheerfully at one
another. The Channel was safely behind
them, London was close ahead, and the piston
of the engine seemed to thump a triumphal air.

"We've done it, Twiddel, my boy!" said
the one.

" Thank Heaven ! " replied the other.

*M«fl^ myself," added his friend.

" Yes," said Twiddel ; " you played your
part uncommonly well, Welsh."

" It was the deuce of a fine spree!" sighed
Welsh.

262

THE LUNATIC AT LAK(;E.

" The deuce," assented Twiddel.

" I'm only sorry it's all over," Welsh went
on, gazinj^ regretfully up at the lamp of the
carriage. " I'd give the remains of my char-
acter and my chance of a public funeral to
be starting again from Paris by the morning
train!"

Twiddel laughed.

*• With the same head you had that
morning ? "

" Yes, by George ! Even with the same mile
of dusty gullet ! "

"It's all over now," said Twiddel, philosophi-
cally, and yet rather nervously — "at least the
amusing part of it."

'• All the fun, my boy, all the fun. All the
dinners and the drinks, and the touching of
hats to the aristocratic travellers, and the
girls that sighed, and the bowing and scrap-
ing. Do you remember the sporting baronet
who knew my uncle.** Now, I'm plain Robert
Welsh, whose uncles, as far as I am aware,
don't know a baronet amonor em."

He smiled a little sardonically.

"And the Baron at Fogelschloss," said
Twiddel.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

263

" Who insisted on learning my pedii^ree
back to Alfred the Great! Gad, I gave it
him, though, and I doubt whether the real
Essington could havj done as much. I'd
rather surprise sonie of these noblemen if I
turned up again in my true character!"

" Thank the Lord, we're not likely to meet
them again ! " exclaimed the Doctor, devoutly.

•' No," said Welsh ; " here endeth the second
lesson."

His friend, who had been well brought up,
looked a trifle uncomfortable at this quotation.

'• I say," he remarked a few minutes later,
"we haven't finished yet. We've got to get
the man out again, and hand him back to his
friends."

•' Cured," said Welsh, with a laugh.

" I wonder how he is ? "

"We'll soon see."

They fell silent again, while the train hur-
ried nearer and nearer London town. Welsh
seemed to be musing on some nice point, it
might be of conscience, it might also conceiv-
ably be of a more practical texture. At last
he said, " There's just one thing, old man.
What about the fee.^"

m !

S64

THK LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" I'll get a cheque for it, I suppose," his
friend replied, with an almost excessive air of
mastery over the problem,

" Ha, ha ! " laughed Welsh ; " you know
what I mean. It's a delicate question and all
that, but, hang it, it's got to be answered."

"What has?"

" The division of the spoil."

Twiddel looked dignified.

*' I'll i.ee you get your share, old man," he
answered, easily.

••But what share?"

"You suggested ;^ioo, I think."

"Out of ;^500 — when I've done all the de-
ceiving and told all the lies ! Come, old
man!"

'• Well, what do you want ? "

•• Do you remember a certain crisis when
we'd made a slip "

•• You'd made a slip ! "

'• IVe had made a slip, and you wanted to
chuck the game and bolt ? Do you remember
also the terms I proposed when I offered to
beard the local god almighty in his lair and
explain it all away, and how he became our
bosom pal and we were saved?"

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

265

je, his
2 air of

know
and all
:red."

m," he

he de-
e, old

when

ted to
ember
red to
ir and

le our

''Well?"

";^300 to me, ^200 to you," said Welsh,
decisively.

•• Rot, old man. I'll share fairly, if you in-
sist. ;^250 apiece, will that do?"

Welsh said nothing, but his face was no
longer the countenance of the jovial adven-
turer.

" It will have to, I suppose," he replied, at
length.

It was with this little cloud on the horizon
that they saw the lights of London twinkle
through the windows, and were carried into
the clamour of the platforms.

They both drove first to Twiddel's rooms;
and as they looked out once more on the life
and lights and traffic of the streets, their faces
cleared again.

" We'll have a merry evening ! " cried
Welsh.

"A little supper," suggested Twiddel ; "a
music-hall "

"Et cetera," added Welsh, with a laugh.

The Doctor had written of their coming,
and they found a fire in the back room, and
the table laid.

266

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" Ah," cried Welsh, " this looks devilish
comfortable."

"A letter for me," said Twiddel ; "from
Billson, I think."

He read it and threw it to his friend, re-
marking, *' I call this rather cool of him."

Welsh read —

" Dear Geokc;!:, —I am just off for three
weeks' holiday. Sorry for leaving your prac-
tice, but I think it can look after itself till
you return.

" You have only had two patients, and one
fee between them. The second man vanished
mysteriously. I shall tell you about it when
I come back. He boned a bill too, I fancy,
but the story will keep.

" I am looking forward to hearing the true
tale of your adventures. Good luck to you. —
Yours ever, Thomas Billson."

" Boned a bill ? " exclaimed Welsh. " What
bill, I wonder ? "

" Something that came when I was away, I
suppose. Hang it, I think Billson might have
looked after things better ! "

U I

rHK LUNATIC AT LAK(;K.

267

" It sounds queer," said Welsh, rellectively ;
** I wonder what it was."

•'Confound Billson, he mii^ht have told me,*'
observed the Doctor. " Hut, I say, you know
we have something more practical to see to."

•' Getting the man out again ? "

" Yes."

"Well, let's have a litde grub first."

Twiddel rang the bell, and the frowsy little
maid entered, carrying a letter on a tray.

" Dinner," said he.

*' Please, sir," began the maid, holding out
the tray, " this come for you near a month
agow, but Missis she bin and forgot to send
it hafter you."

*' Confound her ! " said Twiddel, taking the
letter.

He looked at the envelope, and remarked
with a little start of nervous excitement,
" From Dr Congleton."

*' News of Mr Bevendge," laughed Welsh.

The Doctor read the first few lines, and
then, as if he had got an electric shock, the
letter fell from his hand, and an expression of
the most utter and lively consternation came
over his face.

268

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

"Heavens!" he ejaculated, "it's all up."

"What's up?" cried Welsh, snatching at
the lettc.T.

*• He's run away!"

Welsh looked at him for a moment in some
astonishment, and then burst out laughing.

" What a joke I " he cried ; " I don't see any-
thing to make a fuss about. We're jolly well
rid of him."

•' The fee I I won't get a penny till I bring
him back. And the whole thing will be found
out!"

As the full meaning of this predicament
burst upon Welsh, his face underwent a
change by no means pleasant to watch. For
a full minute he swore, and then an ominous
silence fell upon the room.

Twiddel was the first to recover himself.

" Let me see the letter," he said ; " I haven't
finished it."

Welsh read it aloud —

" Dear Twiddel, — I regret to inform you
that the patient, Francis Beveridge, whom you
placed jnder my care, has escaped from Clank-
wood. We have made everv inquiry consis-

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

269

tent with strict privacy, but unfortunately have
not yet been able to lay our hands upon him.
We only knew that he left Ashditch Junction
in the London express, and was seen walking
out of St Euston's Cross. How he has been
able to maintain himself in concealment with-
out money or clothes, I am unable to imagine.

" As no inquiries have been made for him
by his cousin Mr Welsh, or any other of his
friends or relatives, I am writing to you that
you may inform them, and I hope that this
letter may follow you abroad without delay.
I may add that the circumstances of his escape
showed most unusual cunning, and could not
possibly have been guarded against.

" Trusting that you are having a pleasant
holiday, I am, yours very truly,

*• Adolphus S. Congleton."

you
1 you
lank-
Dnsis-

The two looked at one another in silence
for a minute, and then Welsh said, fiercely,
" You must catch him again, Twiddel. Do
you think I am going to have all my risk
and trouble for nothing ? "

^'/ must catch him ! Do you suppose / let
him loose ? "

! |.

tmu 1

ffi..

270

THE LUNAT

AT LARGE.

" You must catch him, all the same."

" I shan't bother my head about him," an-
swered Twiddel, with the recklessness of
despair.

•• You won't ? You want to have the story
known, I suppose ? "

" I don't care if it is."

Welsh looked at him for a minute : then
he jumped up and exclaimed, " You need a
drink, old man. Let's hurry up that slavey."

With the first course their countenances
cleared a lit^^le, with the second they were
almost composed, by the end of dinner they
had started plot-hatching hopefully again.

•'It's any odds on the man's still being in
town," said Welsh. " He had no money or
clothes, and evidently he hasn't gone to any
of his friends, or the whole story would have
been out. Now, there is nowhere where a
man car lie low so well, especially if he is
hard up, as London. I can answer from ex-
perience. He is hardly likely to be in the
West End, or the best class of suburbs, so
we've something to go upon at once. We
must go to a private inquiry office and put
men on his track and then we must take the

THI. LUNATIC AT LARGE.

271

an-
ss oi

story

then
eed a
avey."
lances

were
r they
n.

ing in
ey or

any

1 have
lere a

he is
m ex-
n the
bs, so
We
d put
ce the

town in beats, ourselves. So much is clear;
do you see ? "

" And hadn't we better find out whether
anything mo»'e is known at Clankwood ? " sug-
gested Twiddel. •• Dr Congleton wrote a
month ago ; perhaps they have caught him by
this time."

•' Hardly likely, I'm afraid ; he'd have
written to you if they had. Still, we can
but ask."

"But, I say!" the Doctor suddenly ex-
claimed, "people may find out that I'm back
without him."

Welsh was equal to the emergency.

"You must leave again at once," he said,
decisively, rising from the table ; " and there's
no good wasting time, either."

" What do you mean ? " asked the bewil-
dered doctor, who had not yet assimilated
the criminal point of view.

" We'll put our luggage straight on to a
cab, drive off to other rooms — I know a cheap
place that will do — and if by any chance in-
quiries are made, people must be told that you
are still abroad. Nobody must hear of your
coming home to-night."

272

«(

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

Is it " began Twiddel, dubiously.

" Is it what ? " snapped his friend.

"Is it worth it?"

"Is £soo, not to speak of two reputations,
worth it ! Come on ! "

The unfortunate doctor sighed, and rose too.
He was beginning to think that the nefarious
acquisition of fees might have drawbacks after
all.

t '.

273

CHAPTER II.

The chronicle must now go back a few days
and follow another up-express.

" I must eithf'r be a clergyman or a police-
man/* Mr Bunker reflected, in the corner of his
carriage ; " they seem to me to be on the whole
the two least molested professions. Each cer-
tainly has a livery which, if its occupier is
ordinarily judicious, ought to serve as a cer-
tificate of sanity. To me all policemen are
precisely alike, but- I daresay they know them
apart in the force, and as all the beats and
crossings are presumably taken already, I
might excite suspicion by my mere superfluity.
Besides, a theatrical costumier's uniform would
possibly lack some ridiculous but essential
detail."

He lit another cigar and looked humor-
ously out of the window.

*• I shall take orders. An amateur theatrical

274

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

WH':

clergyman's costume will be more comfortable,
and probably less erroneous. They allow them
some latitude, I believe ; and I don't sup[)Ose
there are any visible ordination scars whose
absence would give me away. I sliall certainly
study the first reverend brotlier I meet to
see.

Thus wisely ruminating, he arrived in Lon-
don at a very early hour on a chilly morning,
and drove straight to a small hotel near King's
Cross, where the landlord was much gratified
at receiving so respectable a guest as the
Rev. Alexander Butler. (" I must begin with
a B," said Mr Bunker to himself; " I think it's
lucky.")

It is true the reverend gentleman was in
eveninii clothes, while his hat and coat had
a singularly secular, not to say fashionable,
appearance ; but, as he mentioned casually in
the course of some extremely affable remarks,
he had been dining in a country house, and liad
not thought it worth while changing before he
left. After breakfasting he dressed hiinsc It in
an equally secular suit of tweeds and went out,
he mentioned incidentally, to call at his tailor's
for his professional habit, which he seemed

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

275

r table,
v th(?m
Appose
whose
rtainly
eet to

n Lon-
orning,
King's
ratified
as the
in with
ink it's

was in
at had
onable,
ally in
marks,
nd had
ore lie
stll in
nt out,
tailor's
eemed

surprised to learn had not yet been furwardcc.
to th(j hotel.

A visit to a certain well-known firm of theat-
rical costumiers was followed by his reappear
ance in a cab accompanied by a bulky brown-
paper parcel ; and presently he emerged from
his room attired more consistently with his
office, much to his own satisfaction, for, as he
observed, " I cannot say I approve of clergy-
men masquerading as laymen."

His opinion on the converse circumstance
was not expressed.

Much to his hmdlord's disappointment, he
informed him that he should probably leave
again that afternoon, and then he went out for
a walk.

About half an hour later he was once more
in the street where, not so very long ago, a
very exciting cab - race had finished. He
strolled slowly past Dr Twiddel's house. The
blinds of the front room were down ; at that
hour there was no sign of life about it, and he
saw nothing at all to arrest his attention.
Then he looked down the other side of the
street, and to his great satisfaction spied a card,
with the legend " Apartments to let," in one of

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

<i?'t^.

u..

1.0

I.I

1.25

1^ 1 2.8

|50 ™^*

2.5

i£

1^ IIIIIM

1.4

i.8

1.6

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 V4EST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80

(716) 873-4503

M
^

rf-

^\^

2/6

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

M'i

the first-floor windows of a house immediately
opposite.

He rang the bell, and in a moment a rotund
and loquacious landlady appeared. Yes, the
drawing-room was to let ; would the reverend
gentleman come up and see it ? Mr Bunker
went up, and approved. They readily agreed
upon terms, and the landlady, charmed with
her new lodger's appearance and manners, no
less than with the respectability of his profes-
sion, proceeded to descant at some length on
the quiet, comfort, and numerous other advan-
tages of the apartments.

"Just the very plice you wants, sir. We
'ave *ad clerical gentlemen 'ere before, sir ; in
fact, there's one a - staying 'ere now, second
floor, — you may know of 'im, sir, — the Rev-
erend Mr John Duggs ; a very pleasant gen-
tleman you'll find him, sir. Til tell 'im
you're 'ere, sir; 'e'd be sure to like to meet
another gentleman of the syme cloth, has they
say.

Somehow or other thi Rev. Mr Butler failed
to display the hearty pleasure at this announce-
ment that the worthy Mrs Gabbon had natur-
ally expected.

THE LUNATIC AT LAKGE.

^17

ediately

rotund
''es, the
everend

Bunker
^ agreed
ed with
Piers, no

profes-
ngth on
• advan-

ir. We
, sir ; in
, second
le Rev-
ant gen-
tell 'im
to meet
has they

ler failed
tinounce-
id natur-

Aloud he merely said "Indeed," politely,
but with no unusual interest.

Within himself he reflected, "The deuce
take Mr John Duggs ! However, I want the
rooms, and a man must risk something."

As a precautionary measure he visited a
second-hand bookseller on his way back, and
purchased a small assortment of the severest-
looking works on theology they kept in stock ;
and these, with his slender luggage, he brought
round to Mrs Gabbon's in the course of the
afternoon.

He looked carefully out of his sitting-room
window, but the doctor's blinds were still down,
and he saw no one coming or going about the
house ; so he began his inquiries by calling up
his landlady.

" I have been troubled with lumbago, Mrs
Gabbon," he began.

" Dearie me, sir," said Mrs Gabbon, " I'm
sorry to 'ear that ; you that looks so 'ealthy
too! Well, one never knows what's be'ind a
'appy hexterior, does one, sir .J*"

"No, Mrs Gabbon," replied Mr Bunker,
solemnly; "one never knows what even a
clergyman's coat C( nceals^"

278

THE LUNAIIC AT LARGE.

"That's very true, sir. In the midst of life
we are in "

" Lumbago," interposed Mr Bunker.

Mrs Gabbon looked a trifle startled.

"Well," he continued, with the same gravity,
** I may unfortunately have occasion to consult
a doctor "

" There's Dr Smith," interrupted Mrs Gab-
bon, her equanimity quite restored by his
ecclesiastical tone and the mention of ail-
ments ; '* e attended my pore dear 'usband hall
through his last illness ; an huncommon clever
doctor, sir, as I ought to know, sir, bein' "

" No doubt an excellent man, Mrs Gabbon ;
but I should like to know of one as near at
hand as possible. Now I see the Hc^me of a
Dr Twiddel "

" I wouldn't recommend 'im, sir," said Mrs
Gabbon, pursing her mouth.

"Indeed? Why not?"

•* 'E attended Mrs Brown's servant-girl, sir,
— she bein' the lady as has the *ouse next
door, — and what he give 'er didn't do no good.
Mrs Brown tell me 'erself."

" Still, in an emergency "

" Besides which, he ain't at 'ome, sir."

>»

Lrs

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

279

" Where has he gone ? "

" Abroad, they do say, sir ; though I don't
rightly know much about 'im."

" Has he been away long ? "

Mrs Gabbon considered.

"It must 'ave bin before the middle of Nov-
ember he went, sir."

" Ha ! " exclaimed Mr Bunker, keenly, though
apparently more to himself than his landlady.

** I beg your pardon, sir ? "

*' The middle of November, you say ?
That's a long holiday for a doctor to take."

"'E 'avn't no practice to speak of, — not as
I knows of, leastways."

" What sort of a man is he — young or old ? "

" By my opinion, sir, 'e's too young. I
don't 'old by them young doctors. Now Dr
Smith, sir "

" Dr Twiddel is quite a young man, then ?'*

"What I'd call little better than a boy, sir.
They tell me they lets 'em loose very young
nowadays."

" About twenty-five, say ? "

" 'E might be that, sir ; but I don't know
much about 'im, sh. Now Dr Smith, sir, 'es
different."

I ■¥''.'

I ^

i 3 h

i i S

280

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

In fact at this point Mrs Gabbon showed
such a tendency to turn the conversation back
to the merits of Dr Smith and the precise
nature of Mr Bunker's ailment, that her lodger,
in despair, requested her to bring up a cup of
tea as speedily as possible.

" Before the middle of November," he said to
himself. " It is certainly a curious coincidence."

To a gentleman of Mr Bunker's sociable
habits and active mind, the prospect of sitting
day by day in the company of his theological
treatises and talkative landlady, and watching
an apparently uninhabited house, seemed at
first sight even less entertaining than a return
to Clankwood. But, as he said of himself, he
possessed a kind of easy workaday philosophy,
and, besides that, an apparently irresistible at-
traction for the incidents of life.

He had barely finished his cup of tea, and
was sitting over the fire smoking one of the
Baron's cigars and looking through one of the
few books he had brought that bore no relation
to divinity, his feet high upon the side of the
mantelpiece, his ready-made costume perhaps a
little more unbuttoned than the strictest pro-
priety might approve and a stiff glass of

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

281

showed

)n back

precise

lodger,

cup of

: said to
dence."
jociable
' sitting
Dlogical
atching
ned at
return
self, he
)sophy,
ible at-

;a, and
of the
of the
elation
of the
haps a
Jt pro-
ass of

whisky - and - water at his elbow, when there
came a rap at his door.

In response to his "Come in," a middle-aged
gentleman, dressed in clerical attire, entered.
He had a broad, bearded face, a dull eye, and
an indescribably average aspect.

"The devil! Mr John Duggs himself,"
thought Mr Bunker, hastily adopting a more
conventional attitude and feeling for his button-
holes.

"Ah— er— Mr Butler, I believe.?" said the
stranger, with an apologetic air.

"The same," replied Mr Bunker, smiling
affably.

"I," continued his visitor, advancing with
more confidence, *'am Mr Duggs. I am
dwelling at present in the apartment immed-
iately above you, and hearing of the arrival of
a fellow-clergyman, through my worthy friend
Mrs Gabbon, I have taken the liberty of
calling. She gave me to understand that you
were not undesirous of making my acquaint-
ance, Mr Butler."

*' The deuce, she did ! " thought Mr Butler.
Aloud he answered most politely, " I am
honoured, Mr Duggs. Won't you sit down .? '»

*■ ri

282

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

First casting a wary eye upon a chair, Mr
Duggs seated himself carefully on the edge
of it.

" It is quite evident," thought Mr Bunker,
"that he has spotted something wrong. I
believe a bobby would have been safer after
all."

He assumed the longest face he could draw,
and remarked sententiously, " The weather has
been unpleasantly cold of late, Mr Duggs."

He flattered himself that his guest seemed
instantly more at his ease. Certainly he re-
plied with as much cordiality as a man with
such a dull eye could be supposed to display.

" It has, Mr Butler ; in fact I have suffered
from a chill for some weeks. Ahem ! "

" Have something to drink," suggested Mr
Bunker, sympathetically. " I'm trying a little
whisky myself, as a cure for cold."

"I — ah — I am sorry. I do not touch
spirits.

"I, on the contrary, am glad to hear it.
Too few of our clergymen nowadays support
the cause of temperance by example."

Mr Bunker felt a little natural pride in this
happily expressed sentiment, but his visitor

[

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

283

lir, Mr
i edge

Junker,
ig. I
r after

1 draw,
ler has

seemed
he re-
n with
play,
uffered

ed Mr
a little

touch

ear it.
lupport

in this
visitor

merely turned his cold eye on the whisky
bottle, and breathed heavily.

"Confound him ! " he thout^ht ; " I'll give him
something to snort at il he is going to conduct
himself like this."

" Have a cigar ? " he asked aloud.

Mr Duggs seemed to regard the cigar-box a
little less unkindly than the whisky bottle ; but
after a careful look at it he replied, " I am
afraid they seem a little too strong for me. 1
am a light smoker, Mr Butler."

"Really," smiled Mr Bunker; •• so many
virtues in one room reminds me of the virgins
of Gomorrah."

" I beg your pardon ? The what ? " asked
Mr Duggs, with a startled stare.

Mr Bunker suspected that he had made a
slip in his biblical reminiscences, but he con-
tinued to smile imperturbably, and inquired
with a perfect air of surprise, " Haven't you
read the novel I referred to .-* "

Mr Duggs appeared a little relieved, but he
answered blankly enough, " I — ah — have not.
What is the book you refer to ? "

'* Oh, don't you know ? To tell the truth, I
forget the title. It's by a somewhat well-

■ t

284

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

known lady writer of religious fiction. A Miss
— her name escapes me at this moment."

In fact, as Mr Bunker had no idea how long
his friend might be dwelling in the apartment
immediately above him, he thought it more
prudent to make no statement that could pos-
sibly be checked.

" I am no great admirer of religious fiction
of any kind," replied Mr Duggs, " particularly
that written by emotional females."

'♦ No," said Mr Bunker, pleasantly ; •* I
should imagine your own doctrines were not
apt to err on the sentimental side."

" I am not aware that I have said anything
to you about my — doctrines, as you call them,
Mr Butler."

'• Still, don't you think one can generally tell
a man's creed from his coat, and his sympathies
from the way he cocks his hat ? "

••I think," replied Mr Duggs, "that our
ideas of our vocation are somewhat different."

" Mine is, I admit," said Mr Bunker, who
had come to the conclusion that the strain
of playing I; is part was really too great, and
was now being happily carried along by his
tong^ue.

I!:l

THH LUNAFIC AT LARGE.

285

A Miss

•

low long
)artment
it more
uld pos-

s fiction
ticularly

tly; "I
^ere not

inything
11 them,

-ally tell
npathies

hat our
fferent."
er, who
i strain
jat, and
by his

Mr Duggs for a moment was evidently dis-
posed to give battle, but thinking better of it,
he contented himself with frowning at his
younger opponent, and abrupdy changed the
subject.

"May I ask what position you hold in the
church, Mr Butler ? "

"Why," began Mr Bunker, lightly: it was
on the tip of his tongue to say "a clergyman, of
course," when he suddenly recollected that he
might be anything from the rank of curate up
to the people who wear gaiters (and who these
were precisely he didn't know). An ingenious
solution suggested itself. He replied with a
preliminary inquiry, " Have you ever been in
the East, Mr Du^crs ? "

" I regret to say I have not hitherto had the
opportunity."

"Thank the Lord for that," thought Mr
Bunker. " I have been a missionary," he said
quietly, and looked dreamily into the fire.

It was a happy move. Mr Duggs was
visibly impressed.

"Ah?" he said. "Indeed? I am much
interested to learn this, Mr Butler. It — ah —
gives me perhaps a somewhat different Anew

286

THK LUNATIC AT LAKCE.

I' f,

< i
II

of your — ah — opinions. Where did your work
lie ? "

"China," repHed Mr Bunker, thinking it
best to keep as far abroad as possible.

"Ha!" exclaimed Mr Duggs. "This is
really extremely fortunate. I am at present,
Mr Butler, studying the religions and customs
of China at the British Museum, with a view to
going out there myself very shortly. I already
feel I know almost as much about that most
interesting country as if I had liv^^d there. I
should like to talk with you at some length on
the subject."

Mr Bunker saw that it was time to put an
end to this conversation, at whatever minor risk
of perturbing his visitor. He had been a little
alarmed, too, by noticing that Mr Duggs' dull
eye had wandered frequently to his theological
library, which with his usual foresight he had
strewn conspicuously on the table, and that any
expression it had was rather of suspicious curi-
osity than gratification.

" I should like to hear some of your experi-
ences," Mr Duggs continued. "In what pro-
vince did you work ?"

"In Hung Hang Ho," replied Mr Bunker.

; i

IHE LUNATIC AT LARCJ:.

287

)ur work

iklng it
e.

This is
present,
customs
view to
already
at most
lere. I
tigth on

experi-
at pro-

iunker.

His visitor looked puzzled, but he continued
boldly, " My experiences were somewhat un-
pleasant. I became engaged to a Mandarin's
daughter— a charming girl. I was suspected,
hovaver, of abetting an illicit traffic in Chinese
lanterns. My companions were manicured
alive, and I only made my escape in a pagoda,
or a junk— I was in too much of a hurry to
notice which— at the imminent peril of my life.
Don't go to China, Mr Duggs."

Mr Duggs rose.

"Young man," he said, sternly, "put away
that fatal bottle. I can only suppose that it is
under the influence of drink that you have ven-
tured to tell me such an irreverent and impos-
sible story."

"Sir," began Mr Bunker, warmly,— for he
thought that an outburst of indignation would
probably be the safest way of concludiiicr the
mterview,— when he stopped abruptly and lis-
tened. All the time his ears had been alive
to anything going on outside, and now he heard
a cab rattle up and stop close by. It might be
at Dr Twiddel's, he thought, and, turning from
his visitor, he sprang to the window.

Remarking distantly, "I hear a cab; it is

'i it

288

THE LUNATIC AT LARGK.

possibly a friend I am expecting," Mr Duggs
stepped to the other window.

It was only, however, a hansom at the door
of the next house, out of which a very golden-
haired younv^ lady was stepping.

"Aha," said Mr Bunker, quite forgetting the
indignant ro/e he had begun to play; ** rather
nice ! Is this your friend, Mr Diiggs ? "

Mr Duggs gave him one look of his dull
eyes, and walked straight for the door. As he
went out he merely remarked, " Our acquaint-
ance has been brief, Mr Butler, but it has been
quite sufficient."

" Quite," thought Mr Bunker.

289

CHAPTER HI.

That was Mr Bunkers first and last meeting
with the Rev. John Duggs, and he took no
small credit to himself for having so effectually
mcensed his neighbour, without, at the same
time, bringing suspicion on anything more per-
tinent than his sobriety.

And yet sometimes in the course of the next
three days he would have been thankful to see
him again, if only to have another passage-of-
arms. The time passed most wearily; the
consulting-room blinds were never raised ; no
cabs stopped before the doctor's door ; nobody
except the little servant ever moved about the
house.

He could think of ro plan better than wait-
ing ; and so he waited, showing himself seldom
in the streets, and even sitting behind the cur-
tain while he watched at the window After
writing at some length to the Baron he had no

290

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

I m

further correspondence that he could distract
himself with ; he wiis even forced once or twice
to dip into the theological works. Mrs Gab-
bon had evidently "'eard sommat" from Mr
Duggs, and treated him to little of her society.
The boredom became so excessive that he de-
cided he must make a move soon, however
rash it was.

The only active step he took, and indeed
the only step he saw his way to take, was a call
on Dr Twiddel's locum. But luck seemed to
run dead against him. Dr Billson had de-
parted '• on his holiday," he was informed,
and would not return for three weeks. So Mr
Bunker was driven back to his window and the
Baron's cigars.

It was the evening of his fourth day in Mrs
Gabbon's rooms. He had finished a modest
dinner, and was dealing himself hands at
piquet with an old pack of cards, when he
heard the rattle of a cab coming up the street.
The usual faint flicker of hope rose : the cab
stopped below him, the flicker burned brighter,
and in an instant he was at the window. He
opened the slats of the blind, and the flicker
was aflame. Before the doctor's house a four^

distract
or twice
[rs Gab-
rom Mr
' society.
t he de-
however

I indeed
'as a call
emed to
had de-
iformed,
So Mr
and the

J in Mrs
modest
ands at
i^hen he
le street,
the cab
brighter,
)w. He
e flicker
5 a four-

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. 291

wheeled cab was standing laden with luggage,
and two men were going up the steps!" He
watched the luggage being taken in and the
cab drive away, and then he turned radiantly
back to the fire,

"The curtain is up," he said to himself.
" What's the first act to be } "

Presently he put on his wideawake hat and
went out for a stroll. He walked slowly past
the doctor's house, but there was nothing to be
seen or heard. Remembering the room at the
back, he was not surprised to find no chink of
light about the front windows, and thinking it
better not to run the risk of being seen linger-
ing there, he walked on. He was in such
good spirits, and had been cooped up so con-
tinually for the last few days, that he went on
and on, and it was not till about a couple of
hours had passed that he approached his rooms
again. As he came down the street he was
surprised to see by the light of a lamp that
another four-wheeler was standing before the
doctor's house, also laden with luggage.

Two men jumped in, one after -nother, and
when he had come at his fastest walk within
twenty yards or so, the cabman whipped up

292

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

and drove rapidly away, luggage and men
and all.

He looked up and down for a hansom, but
there were none to be seen. For a few yards
he set off at a run in pursuit, and then, finding
that the horse was being driven at a great rate,
and remembering the paucity of stray cabs in
the quiet streets and roads round about, he
stopped and considered the question.

" After all," he reflected, " it may not have
been Dr Twiddel who drove away ; in fact, if
it was he who arrived in the first cab, it's any
odds against it. Pooh ! It can't be. Still,
it's a curious thing if two cabs loaded with
luggage came to the house in the same
evening, and one drove away without un-
lading."

With his spirits a little damped in spite of
his philosophy, he went back to his rooms.

In the morning the consulting- room blinds
were still down, and the house looked as
deserted as ever.

He waited till lunch, and then he went out
boldly and pulled the doctor's bell. The same
little maid appeared, but she evidently did not
recognise the fashionable patient who disap-

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

293

d men

Dm, but
w yards
finding
at rate,
cabs in
•out, he

ot have
I fact, if
it's any
. Still,
ed with
e same
)ut un-

spite of
00ms.
1 blinds
)ked as

rent out
le same
did not
► disap-

peared so mysteriously in the demure-looking
clergyman at the door.

"Is Dr Twiddelathome?"

" No, sir, he ain't back yet."

"He hasn't been back ? "

" No, sir."

Mr Bunker looked at her keenly, and then
said to himself, " She is lying."

He thought he would try a chance shot.

"But he was expected home last night, I
believe."

The maid looked a little staggered.

" He ain't been," she replied.

" I happen to have heard that he called here/'
he hazarded again.

This time she was evidently put about.

" He ain't been here— as I knows of."

He slipped half-a-crown into her hand.

*• Think again," he said, in his most winning
accents.

The poor little maid was obviously in a
dilemma.

•• Do you want him particular, sir ?"

"Particularly."

She fidgeted a litde.

"He told me," he pursued, "that he might

lit^K^

iiKi

if?;

294

THE LUNATIC AT LAR(iK.

look in at his rooms last night. He left no
message for me ? "

" What nime, sir ? "

" Mr Butler."

" No, sir."

** Then, my dear," said Mr Bunker, with his
most insinuating smile, "he was here for a
little, you can't deny ? "

At the maid's embarrassed glance down his
long coat, he suddenly realised that there was
perhaps a distinction between lay and clerical
smiles.

"He might have just looked in, sir," she
admitted.

" But he didn't want it known ? "

" No, sir."

" Quite right, I advised him not to, and you
did very well not to tell me at first."

He smiled approvingly and made a pretence
of turning away.

" Oh, by the way," he added, stopping as if
struck by an after-thought, " Is he still in town?
He promised to leave word for me, but he has
evidently forgotten."

" I don't know, sir ; 'e didn't say."

"What? He left «i? word at all?"

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

295

left no

nth his
for a

wn his
re was
clerical

she

nd you

retence

g as if

town ?

he has

" No, sir."

Mr Bunker held out another half-crown.

"It's truth, sir," said the maid, drawing back;
" we don't know where 'e is."

" Take it, all the same ; you have been very
discreet. You have no idea ? "

The maid hesitated.

" I ^/-af 'ear Mr Welsh sy something about
lookin' for rooms," she allowed.

" In London ? "

*' I expect so, sir ; but 'e didn't say no more."

" Mr Welsh is the friend who came with him,
of course ? "

" Yes, sir."

"Thanks," said Mr Bunker. "By the way,
Dr Twiddel might not like your telling this
even to a friend, so you needn't say I called.
I'll tell hin> myself when I see him, and I won't
give you away."

He smiled benignly, and the little maid
thanked him quite gratefully.

"Evidently," he thought as he went away,
" I was meant for something in the detective
line."

He returned to his rooms to meditate, and
the longer he thought the more puzzled he be-

296

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

came, and yet the more convinced that he had
taken up a thread that must lead him some-
where.

"As for my plan of action," he considered,
** I see nothing better for it than staying where
I am — and watching. This mysterious doctor
must surely steal back some night. Now and
then I might go round the town and try a cast
in the likeliest bars — oh, hang me, though ! I
forgot I was a clergyman."

That night he had a welcome distraction in
the shape of a letter from the Baron. It was
written from Brierley Park, in the Baron's best
pointed German hand, and it ran thus —

" My dear Bunker, — I was greatly more
delighted than I am able to express to you
from the amusing correspondence you ad-
dressed me. How glad I am, I can assure you,
that you are still in safety and comfort. Re-
member, my dear friend, to call for me when
need arises, although I do think you can guard
yourself as well as most alone.

" This leaves me happy and healthful, and in
utmost prosperity with the kind Sir Richard
and his charming Lady. You English cer-

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

297

he had
i some-

iidered,
; where
doctor
ow and
T a cast
gh! I

tion in

It was

I's best

more
to you
m ad-
re you,
. Re-
i when
guard

and in
ichard
h cer-

tainly know well how to cause time to pass
with mirth. About instruction I say less!

"They have talked of you here. I laugh
and keep my tongue when they wonder who
he is and whither gone away. Now that anger
is passed and they see I myself enjoy the joke,
they say, and especially do the ladies, (You
humbug. Bunker !) ' How charming was the
imitation, Baron ! ' You can indeed win the
hearts, if wishful so. The Lady Grillyer and
her unexpressable daughter I have often seen.
To-day they come here for two nights. I did
suggest it to Lady Brierley, and I fear she did
suspect the condition of my heart ; but she
charmingly smiled, she asked them, and they
come!

" The Countess, I fear, does not now love
you much, my friend ; but then she knows not
the truth. The Lady Alicia is strangely silent
on the matter of Mr Bunker, but in time she
also doubtless will forgive." (At this Mr '
Bunker smiled in some amusement.)

" When they leave Brierley I also shall take
my departure on the following day, that is in
three days. Therefore write hastily, Bunker,
and name the place and hour where we shall

29$

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

meet a^^ain and dine festively. I expect a
most reverent clergyman and much instructive
discourse. Ah, humbug! — Thine always,

" Rudolph von Blitzenberg.

** P.S. — She is sometimes more kind and
sometimes so distant. Ah, I know rot what
to surmise ! But to-morrow or the next my
fate will be decided. Give me of your prayers,
my reverent friend ! R. von B."

" Dear old Baron ! " said Mr Bunker. •• Well,
I've at least a dinner to look forward to."

299

pect a
Tuctive

(ERG.

d and
t what
ixt my
rayers,
B."

• Well.

CHAPTER IV.

Div TwiDDEL, meanwhile, was no less anxious
to make the Rev. Alexander Butler's acquaint-
ance than che Rev. Alexander Butler was to
make his. Not that he was aware of that
gentleman's recent change of identity and oc-
cupation ; but most industrious endeavours to
find a certain Mr Beveridge were made in the
course of the next few days. He and W-lsh
y^ere living modestly and obscurely in the
neighbourhood of the Pentonville Road, scour-
ing the town by day, studying a map and lay-
ing the most ingenious plans at night. Welsh's
first effort, as soon as they were established in
their new quarters, was to induce his friend to go
down to Clankwood and make further inquiries,
but this Twiddel absolutely declined to do.

" My dear chap," he answered, " supposing
anything were found out, or even suspected,
what am I to say ? Old Congleton knows me

300

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

well, and for his own sake doesn't want to make
a fuss ; but if he really spots that something is
wrong, he will be so afraid of his reputation
that he'd give me away like a shot."

" How are you going to give things away by
going down and seeing him ? "

** // they have guessed anything, I'll give it
away. I haven't your cheek, you know, and
tact, and that sort of thing ; you'd much better
go yourself."

•'//' It isn't my business."

" You seem to be making it yours. Besides,
Dr Congleton thinks it is. You passed your-
self off as the chap's cousin, and it is quite
natural for you to go and inquire."

Welsh pondered the point. ** Hang it," he
said at last, *' it would do just as well to write.
Perhaps it's safer after all."

"Well, you write."

"Why should I, rather than you ?"

" Because you're his cousin."

Welsh considered again. " Well, I don't sup-
pose it matters much. I '11 write, if you're afraid."

It was these amiable little touches in his
friend's conversation that helped to make
Twiddel's lot at this time so pleasant. In

THE LUNAilC AT LARGE.

301

o make
thing is
mtation

way by

give it

w, and

better

besides,
I your-
J quite

it," he
) write.

I't sup-
ifraid."
in his
make
. In

fact, the Doctor was learning a good deal
about human nature in cloudy weather.

With great care Welsh composed a polite
note of anxious inquiry, and by return of post
received the following reply : —

•

'* My dear Sir, — I regret to inform you that
we have not so far recovered your cousin Mr
Beveridge. In all probability, however, this
cannot be long delayed now, as he was seen
within the last week at a country house in
Dampshire, and is known to have fled to Lon-
don immediately on his recognition, but before
he could be secured. He was then clean
shaved, and had been passing under the name
of Francis Bunker. We are making strict in-
quiries for him in London.

'• Nobody can regret the unfortunate circum-
stance of his escape more than I, and, in justice
to myself and my institution, I can assure you
that it was only through the most unforeseen
and remarkable ingenuity on your cousin's part
that it occurred.

" Trusting that I may soon be able to inform
you of his recovery, I am, yours very truly,

"Adolphus S. Congleton."

302

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

I = ? 1* -

Their ardour was, if possible, increased by
Dr Congleton's letter. Mr Beveridge was
almost certainly in London, and they knew
now that they must look for a clean-shaved
man. Two private inquiry detectives were at
work ; and on their own account they had
mapped the likeliest parts of London into
beats, visiting every bar and restaurant in turn,
and occasionally hanging about stations and
the stopping-places for 'buses.

It was dreadfully hard work, and after four
days of it, even Welsh began to get a little
sickened.

" Hang it," he said in the evening, ** I
haven't had a decent dinner since we came
back. Mr Bunker can go to the devil for to-
night, I'm going to dine decently. I'm sick
of going round pubs, and not even stopping
to have a drink."

•' So am I," replied Twiddel, cordially; "where
shall we go ? "

"The Cafe Maccarroni," suggested Welsh;
"we can't afford a west -end place, and they
give one a very decent dinner there."

The Cafd Maccarroni in Holborn is nomin-
ally of foreign extraction, — certainly the waiters

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

303

ised by
ge was
y knew
-shaved
were at
ey had
)n into
in turn,
ns and

:er four
a little

^g, "I
i came
for to-
rn sick
opping

'where

Velsh ;
i they

iiomin-
vaiters

and the stout proprietor come from sunnier
lands,— and many of the diners you can hear
talking in strange tongues, with quick ges-
ticulations. But for the most part they are
respectable citizens of London, who drink
Chianti because it stimulates cheaply and not
unpleasantly. Tie white - painted room is
bright and clean and seldom very crowded, the
British palate can be tickled with tolerable
joints and cutlets, and the foreign with gravy-
covered odds and ends. Altogether, it may
be recommended to such as desire to dine com-
fortably and not too conspicuously.

The hour at which the two friends entered
was later than most of the habitues dine, and
they had the room almost to themselves.
They faced each other across a small table be-
side the wall, and very soon the discomforts
of their researches began to seem more toler-
able.

"We'll catch him soon, old man," said
Welsh, smiling more affably than he had
smiled since they came back. "A day or two
more of this kind of work and even London
won't be able to conceal him any longer."

'• Dash it, we must," replied Twiddel, bravely.

304

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

" We'll show old Congleton how to look for a
lunatic."

"Ha, ha!" laughed Welsh, "I think he'll
be rather relieved himself. Waiter! another
bottle of the same."

The bottle arrived, and the waiter was just
filling their glasses when a young clergyman
entered the room and walked quietly towards
the farther end. Welsh raised his glass and
exclaimed, " Here's luck to ourselves, Twiddel,
old man ! "

At that moment the clergyman was passing
their table, and at the mention of this toast he
started almost imperceptibly, and then, throw-
ing a quick glance at the two, stopped and took
as at at the next table, with his back turned
towards them. Welsh, who was at the farther
side, looked at him with some annoyance, and
made a sign to Twiddel to talk a little more
quietly.

To the waiter, who came with the menu^
the clergyman explained in a quiet voice that
he was waiting for a friend, and asked for an
evening paper instead, in which he soon ap-
peared to be deeply engrossed.

At first the conversation went on in a lower

ok for a

ink he'll
another

was just
irgyman
towards
ass and
fwiddel,

passing
toast he
, throw-
nd took
turned
; farther
ice, and
le more

; menUf
ice that
i for an
5on ap-

a lower

•THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. 305

tone, but in a few minutes they insensibly
forgot their neighbour, and the voices rose
again by starts.

" My dear fellow," Welsh was saying, " we
can discuss that afterwards ; we haven't caught
him yet."

" I want to settle it now."

" But I thought it was settled."

" No, it wasn't," said Twiddel, with a foreiga
and vinous doggedness.

" What do you suggest then .? "

" Divide it equally— ^250 each."

" You think you can claim half the credit
for the idea and half the trouble } "

*' I can claim all the risk— practically."

" Pooh ! " said Welsh. " You think I risked
nothing } Come, come, let's talk of something
else." ^

**Oh, rot!" interrupted Twiddel, who by
this time was decidedly flushed. " You n-edn't
ride the high horse like that, you are not Mr
Mandell-Essington any longer."

With a violent start, the clergyman brought
his fist crash on the table, and exclaimed aloud
"By Heaven, that's it!"

3o6

CHAPTER V.

As one may suppose, everybody in the room
started in great astonishment at this extra-
ordinary outburst. With a sharp ** Hullo!"
Twiddel turned in his seat, to see the clergy-
man standing over him with a look of the
keenest inquiry in his well-favoured face.

" May I ask, Dr Twiddel, what you know of
the gentleman you just named ? " he said, with
perfect politeness.

The conscience-smitten doctor gazed at him
blankly, and the colour suddenly left his face.
But Welsh's nerves were stronger ; and, as he
looked hard at the stranger, a jubilant light
leaped to his eyes.

"It's our man ! " he cried, before his friend
could gather his wits. "It's Beveridge, or
Bunker, or whatever he calls himself! Waiter!"

Instantly three waiters, all agog, hurried at
his summons.

THE LUNATIC AT LAKGE.

307

2 room
extra-

lullo!"
clergy-
of the
ce.

:now of
d, with

at him
is face.
1, as he
It light

3 friend
ige, or
/aiter!"
ried at

Mr Bunker regarded him with considerable
surprise. He had quite expected that the pair
would be thrown into confusion, but not that it
would take this form.

*' Excuse me. sir," he began, but Welsh in-
terrupted him by crying to the leading waiter—

" Fetch a four-wheeled cab and a policeman,
quick!" As the man hesitated, he added,
"This man here is an escaped lunatic."

The waiter was starting for the door, when
Mr Bunker stepped out quickly and inter-
rupted him.

"Stop one minute, waiter," he said, with a
quiet, unruffled air that went far to establish
his sanity. - Do I look like a lunatic ? Kindly
call the proprietor first."

The stout proprietor was already on his way
to their table, and the one or two other diners
were beginning to gather round. Mr Bunker's
manner had impressed even Welsh, and after
his nature he took refuge in bluster.

" I say, my man," he cried, " this won't pass.
Somebody fetch a cab."

"Vat is dees about.?" asked the proprietor,
coming up.

"Your wine, I'm afraid, has been rather too

308

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

powerful for this gentleman," Mr Bunker ex-
plained, with a smile.

" Look here," blustered Welsh, " do you
know you've got a lunatic in the room ? "

" You can perhaps guess it/' smiled Mr
Bunker, indicating Welsh with his eyes.

The waiters began to twitter, and Welsh,
with an effort, pulled himself together.

'* My friend here," he said, " is Dr Twiddel,
a well-known practitioner in London. He can
tell you that he certified this man as a lunatic,
and that he afterwards escaped from his asylum.
That is so, Twiddel ? "

" Yes," assented Twiddel, whose colour was
beginning to come back a little.

''Who are you, sare?" asked the pro-
prietor.

*' Show him your card, Twiddel," said Welsh,
producing his own and handing it over.

The proprietor looked at both cards, and
then turned to Mr Bunker.

" And who are you, sare ? "

"My name is Mandell-Essini^ton."

" His name " began Welsh.

" Have you a card ? " interposed the pro-
prietor.

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

309

er ex-
3 you

•

:d Mr

I.
^elsh,

riddel,
le can
unatic,
sylum.

ur was

2 pro-

V^elsh,

s, and

e pro-

" I am sorry I have not," replied Mr Bunker
(to still call him by the name of his choice).

" His name is Francis Beverid^e," said Welsh.

'•I beg your pardon; it is Mandell - Es-
sington."

•' Any other description ? " Welsh asked, with
a sneer.

" A gentleman, I believe."

" No other occupation .•* "

*' Not unless you can call a justice of the
peace such," replied Mr Bunker, with a smile.

'• And yet he disguises himself as a clergy-
man ! " exclaimed Welsh, triumphantly, turning
to the proprietor.

Mr Bunker saw that he was caught, but he
merely laughed, and obs-rved, "My friend
here disguises himself in ijquor, a much less
respectable cloak."

Unfortunately the humour of this remark was
somewhat thrown away on his present audience ;
indeed, coming from a professed clergyman, it
produced an unfavourable impression.

"You are not a clergyman .?" said the pro-
prietor, suspiciously.

"I am glad to say I am not," rep ed Mr
Bunker, frankly..

3IO

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

tiiil

" Den vat do you do in dis dress ?"

" I put it on as a compliment to the cloth ;
I retain it at present for decency," said Mr
Bunker, whose tongue had now got a fair
start of him.

" Mad," remarked Welsh, confidentially,
shrugging his shoulders with really excellent
dramatic effect.

By this time the audience were disposed to
agree with him.

'* You can give no better account of yourself
dan dis ? " asked the proprietor.

'* I am anxious to," replied Mr Bunker, ** but
a public restaurant is not the place in which I
choose to give it."

" Fetch the cab and the policeman," said
Welsh to a waiter.

At this moment another gentleman entered
the room, and at the sight of him Mr Bunker's
face brightened, and he stopped the waiter by
a cry of, "Wait one moment; here comes a
gentleman who knows me."

Everybody turned, and beheld a burly, very
fashionably dressed young man, with a fair
moustache and a cheerful countenance.

" Ach, Bonker !" he cried.

THK LUNATIC AT LARGE.

cloth ;
id Mr
a fair

uially,
cellent

sed to

3urself

, *♦ but
hich I

" said

ntered
inker's
ter by
mes a

', very
a fair

This confirmation of Mr Bunker's aliases
ouoht, one would expect, to have delighted the
two conspirators, but, instead, it produced the
most remarkable effect. Twiddel utterly col-
lapsed, while even Welsh's impudence at last
deserted him. Neither said a word as the
Baron von Blitzenberg greeted his friend with
affectionate heartiness.

" My friend, zis is good for ze heart ! Bot,
how } vat makes it here .'* "

" My dear Baron, the most unfortunate mis-
take has occurred. Two men here " But

at this moment he stopped in great surprise,
for the Baron was staring hard first at Welsh
and then at Twiddel.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, "Mr Mandell-Essing-
ton, I zink ?"

Welsh hesitated for an instant, and his hesi-
tation was evident to all. Then he replied,
"No, you are mistaken."

*• Surely I cannot be ; you did stay in Fogel-
schloss } " said the Baron. " Is not zis Dr
Twiddel?"

"No— er — ah — yes," stammered Twiddel,
looking feebly at Welsh.

The Baron looked from the one to the other

312

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

PI.

in great perplexity, when Mr Bunker, who had
been much puzzled by this conversation, broke
in, "Did you call that person MandellEs-
sin^ton ? "

" I cairtainly zought it vas."

" Where did you meet him ?"

*' In Bavaria, at my own castle."

" You are mistaken, sir," said Welsh.

"One moment, Mr Welsh," said Mr Bunker.
** How long ago was this. Baron ? "

"Jost before I gom to London. He tra-
velled viz zis ozzer gentleman, Dr Twiddel."
. •* You are wrong, sir," persisted Welsh.

" For his health," added the Baron.

A light began to dawn on Mr Bunker.

" His health ? " he cried, and then smiled
politely at Welsh.

" We will talk this over, Mr Welsh."

•• I am sorry I happen to be going," said
Welsh, taking his hat and coat.

" What, without your lunatic } " asked Mr
Bunker.

"That is Dr Twiddel's affair, not mine.
Kindly let me pass, sir."

"No, Mr Welsh ; if you go now, it will
be in the company of that policeman you were

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

3«3

SO anxious to send for." There was such an
unmistakable threat in Mr Bunker's voice and
eye that Welsh hesitated. " We will talk it
over, Mr Welsh," Mr Bunker repeated dis-
tinctly. "Kindly sit down. I have several
thingfi to ask you and your friend Dr
Twiddel."

Muttering something under his breath,
Welsh hung up his coat and hat, sat down,
and then assuming an air of great impudence,
remarked, "Fire away, Mr Mandell-Essing-
ton — Beveridge— Bunker, or whatever you call
yourself."

Without paying the slightest attention to
this piece of humour, Mr Bunker turned to the
bewildered proprietor, and, to the intense dis-
appointment of the audience, said, " You can
leave us now, thank you ; our talk is likely to
be of a somewhat private nature." As their
gallery withdrew, he drew up a chair for the
Baron, and all four sat round the small table.

"Now," said Mr Bunker to Welsh, "you
will perhaps be kind enough to give me a
precise account of your doings since the middle
of November."

^ I'm d d if i do,'' replied Welsh.

314

IHE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

"Sare," interposed the Baron in his state-
liest manner, " I know not now who you may
be, but I see you are no gentleman. Ven
you are viz gentlemen — and noblemen — you
vill please to speak respectfully."

The stare that Welsh attempted in reply
was somewhat ineffective.

" Perhaps, Dr Twiddel, you can give the
account I want?" said Mr Bunker.

The poor doctor looked at his friend, hesi-
tated, and finally stammered out, " I — I don't
see why."

Mr Bunker pulled a paper out of his pocket
and showed it to him.

" Perhaps this may sugq^est a why."

When the Doctor saw the bill for Mr Bev-
eridge's linen, the last of his courage ebbed
away. He glanced helplessly at Welsh, but
his ally was now leaning back in his chair
with such an irritating assumption of indif-
ference, and the prospective fee had so ob-
viously vanished, that he was suddenly seized
with the most virtuous resolutions.

" What do you want to know, sir ? " he asked.

" In the first place, how did you come to
have anything to do with me ? "

THE LUNATIC AT LARGK.

315

state-

m may

Ven

1 — you

ve the

1, hesi-
I don't

pocket

r Bev-
ebbed

ih, but

J chair
indif-

so ob-
seized

asked.
)me to

Welsh, whose sharp wits instantly divined
the weak point in the attack, cut in quickly,
" Don't tell him if he doesn't know already ! "

But Twiddel's relapse to virtue was com-
ok'te. '* I was asked to take charge of you

whil

('-

He hesitated.

"While I was unwell," smiled Mr Bunker.
*'Yes?"

" I was to travel with you."

"Ah!"

" But I — I didn't like the idea, you see ; and
so — in fact — Welsh suggested that I should
take him instead."

•• While you locked me up in Clankwood ? "

"Yes."

" Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed Mr Bunker, " I must
say it was a devilish humorous idea."

At this Twiddel began to take heart again.

" I am very sorry, sir, for " he began,

when the Baron interrupted excitedly.

*' Zen vat is your name, Bonker ? "

"/am Mr Mandell-Essington, Baron."

The Baron looked at the other three in
turn with wide-open eyes.

Then he turned indignantly upon Welsh.

" You were impostor zen, sare } You gom

3i6

THE LUNA lie AT LARGE.

If ■

to my house and call yourself a gentleman,
and impose upon me, and tell of your family
and your estates. You, a low — er — er — vat
you say ? — a low cacL' Bonker, I cannot sit
at ze :>ame table viz zese persons ! '*

He rose as he spoke.

" One moment, Baron ! Before we send
these gentlemen back to their really promising
career of fraud, I want to ask one or two more
questions." He turned to Twiddel. "What
were you to be paid for this ? "

Mr Bunker opened his eyes. " That's the
way my money gees ? Frt)m your anxiety to
recapture me, I presumes you have not yet been
paid ? "

" No, I assure you, Mr Essington," said
Twiddel, eagerly , " I give ycu my word."

** I shall judge by the circumstances rather
than your word, sir. It is perhaps unnecessary
to inform you that you have had your trouble
for nothing." He looked at them both as
though they were curious animals, and then
continued : " You, Mr Welsh, are a really won-
derfully typical rascal. I am glad to have met
you. You can now put on your coat and go"

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

31;

entlenian,
ur familv
— er — vat
annot sit

we send

3romising

wo more

•* What

hat's the
ixiety to
yet been

>n," said
vord."
es rather
lecessary
r trouble
both as
md then
illy won-
lave met
and go."

As Welsh still sat defiantly, he added, '' Ai
once, sir! or you may possibly find policemen
and four-wheeled cabs outside. I have some-
thing else to say to Dr Twiddel."

With the best air he could muster, Welsh
silently cocked his hat on the side of his head,
threw his coat over his arm, and was walking
out, when a watchful waiter intercepted him.

" Your bill, sare."

" My friend is paying."

"No, Mr Welsh," cried the real Essington;
" I think you had better pay for this dinner
yourself"

Welsh saw the vigilant proprietor already
coming towards him, and with a look that
augured ill for Twiddel when they wore alone,
he put his hand in his pocket.

"Ha, ha!" laughed Essington, "the inevit-
able bill ! "

" And now," he continued, turning to Twid-
del, " you, Doctor, seem to me a most unfortun-
ately constructed biped ; your nose is just long
enough to enable you to be led into a singu-
larly original adventure, and your brains just too
few to carry it through creditably. Hang me if
I wouldn't have made a better job of the busi-

318

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

ness I But before you disappear from the com-
pany of gentlemen I must ask you to do one
favour for me. First thing to-morrow morning
you will go down to Clankwood, tell what lie
you please, and obtain my legal discharge, or
whatever it's called. After that you may go to
the devil — or, what comes much to the same
thing, to Mr Welsh — for all I care. You will
do this without fail }''

"Ye — eSj" stammered Twiddel, "certainly,

sir.

" You may now retire — and the faster the
better."

As the crestfallen Doctor followed his ally
out of the restaurant, the Baron exclaimed in
disgust, *' Ze cads ! You are too merciful.
You should punish."

•' My dear Baron, after all I am obliged to
these rascals for the most amusing timr T have
ever had in my life, and one of the be.. : '-lends
I've ever made."

" Ach, Bonker ! Bot vat do I say 1 You
are not Bonker no more, and yet may I call
you so, jost for ze sake of pleasant times .•* It
vill be too hard to change." < .

" I'd rather you would. Baron. It will be a

THE LUNATIC AT LARGE.

319

he corn-
do one
Tiorning
Arhat lie
irge, or
ly go to
le same
'^ou will

^rtainly,

Iter the

bis ally
imed in
lerciful.

iged to
I have
iViends

' You
' I call
^s ? It

perpetual in memoriam record of my departed
virtues."

" Departed, Bonker ? "

" Departed, Baron," his friend repeated with
a sigh ; "for how can I ever hope to have so
spacious a field for them again ? Believe me,
they will wither in an atmosphere of orthodoxy.
And now let us order dinner."

" But first," said the Baron, blushing, " I haf
a piece of news."

" Baron, I guess it ! "

"Ze Lady Alicia is now mine! Congratu-
late!"

" With all my heart, Baron ! What could be
a fitter finish than the detection of villainy, the
marriage of all the sane people, and the apo-
theosis of the lunatic ? "

11 be a