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Updated: September 19, 2025
Suppose all these things have a common origin? Suppose the hold which Parrawhite had or has on Pratt is part and parcel of the hold which Pratt has on Mrs. Mallathorpe? In that case or cases what is the best thing to do?" "Will you gentlemen allow me to suggest something?" said Byner. "Very well find Parrawhite! Of all the people concerned in this, Parrawhite, from your account of him, anyway, Mr.
Mallathorpe's explanation of the letter was doubtless the right one: Collingwood, little as he had seen of Antony Bartle, knew what a veritable sleuth-hound the old man was where rare books or engravings were concerned. Yet why the sudden exclamation on finding that paper? Why the immediate writing of the letter to Mrs. Mallathorpe?
Within a few minutes he was out in the park again, and making his way to the little railway station in the valley below. He felt triumphant he knew that the woman he had just left was at his mercy and would accede to his terms. And all the way back to town, and through the town to his lodgings, he considered and perfected the scheme he was going to suggest to Mrs. Mallathorpe on the morrow.
She dared not confide in him he was not fit to be entrusted with such a secret, nor endowed with the courage to carry it boldly and unflinchingly. Nor dare she confide it to her daughter Nesta was as strong as her brother was weak: Mrs. Mallathorpe had only told the plain truth when she said to Pratt that if her daughter knew of the will she would go straight to the two trustees.
She, however, was looking at him as if she knew him, and she smiled a little as she acknowledged his bow. "My mother is out in the grounds, with my brother," she said, motioning Collingwood towards a chair. "Won't you sit down, please? I've sent for her; she will be here in a few minutes." Collingwood sat down; Nesta Mallathorpe sat down, too, and as they looked at each other she smiled again.
"Well you know, too, no doubt, that the late John Mallathorpe was a bit only a bit of a book-collector; collected books and pamphlets relating to this district?" "I've heard of it," answered the clerk. "He had that collection in his private room at the mill," continued the old bookseller, "and when the new folks took hold, I persuaded them to sell it to me.
"Can you have the dog-cart ready, at the South Garden gate at three o'clock sharp? And without saying anything to the coachman? It's a private errand." Of late this particular groom had received several commissions of this sort, and being a sharp fellow he had observed that they were generally given to him when Miss Mallathorpe was out. "All right," he answered.
But I can tell them what I think and feel about this, at any rate. For as sure as I am that I see you, there's something wrong! And I'll know what it is." Pratt recognized that she had passed beyond the stage of mere anger to one of calm determination. And as she marched towards the door he called her back as the result of a second's swift thought on his part. "Miss Mallathorpe," he said.
"What do you think of Pratt's charge against Mrs. Mallathorpe?" asked Collingwood. Eldrick made a wry face. "Looks bad! very, very bad, Collingwood!" he answered. "Art and scheme of a desperate woman, of course. But we mustn't let her daughter think we believe it.
Mallathorpe, who had known what hard work and plenty of it was, in her time, was trifling over the newspapers rest, comfort, and luxury were by no means boring to her. She looked at the card doubtfully Pratt had pencilled a word or two on it: "Private and important business."
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