What Came Afterwards CHAPTER 13.

It was nine o'clock on the same evening. Mr. Larobe was in his rooms at the City Hotel. Two or three gentlemen had been with him, during the past hour, in a consultation on important business matters, and had just retired. He was alone, and moving about the apartment with that occupied manner incident to busy thought, when one of the waiters handed in a sealed note. A glance at the superscription, wrought an instant change in his countenance. There was an expression of surprise, followed by a half angry knitting of the brow. Sitting down at the table, over which a gaslight was burning, he unfolded the note with a perceptible nervousness of manner, and read —

"I must see you tonight. We are in the most imminent danger. All is at stake. Come instantly! Jane"

The hand by which these alarming sentences were penned had trembled with every stroke; not more, however, than the hand now holding the small piece of paper on which they were written. The lines were more deeply cut on Mr. Larobe's already knitted brow. He knew the writer too well, to disregard her injunction. If she said there was imminent danger — that all was at stake — it was so!

"Come instantly!" Mr. Larobe read the closing sentence again, crumpled the note in his hand, and threw it into the fire. As it blazed up, he arose quickly, and taking his hat and overcoat, started for the residence of his wife. A rapid walk of less than fifteen minutes brought him to the vicinity of Washington's Monument, where Mrs. Larobe resided. The servant who admitted him, opened one of the parlor doors; passing in, he found himself alone with his wife. She was sitting in a large chair, but did not rise nor speak. Her face looked shrunken and older by years than when, only a few weeks since, he had seen her go past him in her carriage. All the calm, resolute firmness of her mouth was gone. It was almost pitiable to see how feebly her lips were dropped apart; how utter exhaustion was expressed in all the lines of her countenance.

Mr. Larobe took a chair, and drawing it up close, sat down. If his heart had trembled on reading her note, it shivered now.

"Why have you sent for me?" he asked.

Mrs. Larobe glanced towards the door, through which he had come, saying in a whisper,

"Fasten it!"

The key was turned, and Mr. Larobe came back and sat down again. His wife bent to his ear and whispered three or four words.

"Impossible!" he exclaimed, actually springing to his feet. "Impossible, Jane!"

"It is as true as that I am a living woman!" answered Mrs. Larobe, solemnly.

Then followed hurried questions and quick answers, both parties showing great fear and agitation. The interview lasted for half an hour, when Mr. Larobe went away, offering to his wife a few calmly spoken and assuring words.

"I will not sleep," he said, "until all is safe. Within ten minutes, I shall return with a policeman, who will not leave the house, night nor day. Should he venture here again, he will be taken in charge and properly cared for. And, in Heaven's name, rally yourself! There has not been a time in your whole life, when self-possession was more needed. Trust me in this hour of peril. I begin already to see the way growing clear."

In ten minutes, as Mr. Larobe had said, he came back with a policeman, and left him in the house, promising his wife, on retiring, that he would see her early on the next day. Mr. Larobe was not in his room in the hotel that night; nor was he to be found in his office, nor in any of the court rooms on the following day.

At one o'clock Edwin Guyton was at the counter of the Union Bank.

The teller handed back his check, with a firm shake of the head.

"What's the matter?" asked the young man, in a tone of feigned surprise.

"No funds," said the teller.

At half-past one, Edwin called again.

"No funds," was repeated.

At two he was there, and got the same reply.

"Are you certain?"

"Certain," answered the teller, coldly.

Half-past two saw Edwin at the counter again with his check. The teller recognized him and shook his head. At ten minutes of three he was there once more. Now, as he offered the check, it was taken by the teller, who stepped back from the counter, and spoke with the cashier, who was standing at a desk. The cashier came forward, with his eyes fixed keenly on Edwin.

"Is your name Edwin Guyton?" he asked.

"That is my name, sir." The young man's eyes fell under the cashier's gaze.

"We are instructed to retain this check," said the bank officer.

"By whose authority?" demanded Edwin.

"By authority of the drawer."

"It is my property, sir, you have no right to retain it. If you will not pay the check, hand it back," said Edwin, partially recovering himself.

"Our orders are imperative, and we take the responsibility," said the cashier, coolly, at the same time handing Edwin a letter, bearing his name on the envelop. He knew the writing to be that of Justin Larobe, and so, without further remonstrance, left the bank in order to get at the contents of this letter, and thence at some fair estimate touching the newdifficulties, if not dangers, that were in the way before him. They were in few words.

"Edwin Guyton, — I have seen your step-mother, and the payment of her check is stopped. It will be safest for you to see me tonight. If you don't call at my rooms, I will orderyour arrest tomorrow. Justin Larobe."

Edwin did not go to his lawyer, for he had acted in this matter without consultation. During the remainder of the day, he considered the question of calling upon Larobe, regarding it on all sides. The decision was in favor of calling. He understood very well, the business on which he was so peremptorily summoned. Larobe would demand a return of the four thousand dollars, and also of the notes for twelve thousand which he had extorted from his step-mother. Concerning this demand, he was in no vacillating condition of mind. "A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush." This adage expressed his state precisely. He meant to hold on to what he had, and defy Mr. Larobe.

At as early an hour as eight o'clock, he was at the City Hotel. He found Mr. Larobe alone, and was received with almost angry sternness.

"Well, sir! for what am I wanted?" demanded Edwin, in a tone of defiance.

"Sit down," said the lawyer.

Edwin sat down.

"It seems," remarked Larobe, suppressing his feelings, and speaking in a low, rather threatening voice, "that you will not be at peace until you find yourself in the state's prison!"

"I shall at least have good company," was answered, with a cold, sneering manner — "which will be some consolation!"

It was plain that Larobe had not anticipated just such a response; for he turned his head with a slightly baffled air.

"You must restore the money paid you on Mrs. Larobe's check, and also the notes you extorted from her under threat," said the lawyer, in a firm voice.

"Never!" was the resolute answer.

Larobe turned to the table by which he was sitting, and taking up a slip of paper, handed it to Edwin. It read thus:

"Caution. — All people are cautioned against receiving three promissory notes, each for four thousand dollars, at three, six, and nine months, respectively, and bearing date March 27th, 1865, drawn by Jane Larobe in favor of Edwin Guyton. Said notes having been extorted, under threat, by said Edwin Guyton, and will not be paid at maturity."

After reading this advertisement, Edwin coolly handed it back, with the monosyllable —

"Well?"

"Unless you restore the money and notes tonight, that advertisement will appear in tomorrow morning's papers."

"What then?"

"In the first place, the notes will be rendered valueless. In the second place, you will find yourself under arrest!"

"And in the third place," added Edwin, speaking as coldly and as resolutely, "you will find yourself under arrest, also, charged with the crime of murder! Were you fool enough," he added, flushing with excitement. "to imagine that I was to be frightened by a puny threat like this, when I had my hand on your throat, and could strangle you at a moment's warning. Beware, sir, how you cross my path! Publish your advertisement in the morning papers. Good! Before twelve o'clock, you will find yourself over the Falls. And harken, my friend! Don't for an instant flatter yourself with the notion that I am the hare and you the hound. The hunt, I fancy, will be in the reverse direction. So, get out of my course, or you will find, when too late for support, my fangs in your side! Tomorrow morning, I shall expect to receive, by ten o'clock, at my office in the Custom House, the check withheld at your instance today; and by twelve o'clock, the money to make it good must be in the bank. In default of this, I swear by all that is sacred, to drag you and your guilty wife, stripped of your infamous disguises, into open day. Maybe you have a concealed listener — a witness, writing me down, word for word! Ah ha! I trust he will omit nothing!"

All this was so far from what Larobe had anticipated, that he sat like one confounded, not knowing what answer to make. Seeing his advantage, Edwin Guyton receded towards the door, and with his hand on the knob, added these brief sentences —

"Make your own choice. I am prepared for you at all points. Thwart me a step farther, and your ruin be on your own head!"

And not giving time for Larobe to recover himself, or reply, he swung open the door, and passing out, left the astonished and discomfited lawyer to his own troubled and deeply anxious thoughts.

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