In some extraordinary and inexplicable manner the story of the monster had leaked out--at any rate, it was in the air. Perhaps the monster himself had blazoned forth the fact of his own value, or Michael, the handy man, had caught a whisper from Maggie (Mrs. Malone's right hand)?

However it was, Mrs. Malone was not a little startled when Mr. Levison, in his loud resonant voice, shouted at her down the dinner table:

"So I hear you've come in for a wonderful find, ma'am--a Chinese figure valued at a handsome sum! Do you know I'm something of a judge of such stuff--old porcelain is rather in my line--and I'd like to have a look at the prize after dinner, if you don't object, and if the bargain is not clinched perhaps I might go one better."

Mrs. Malone coloured like a young girl--or was it the blush of guilt?

Would her sin find her out? No; no matter what the dealer said, she determined to stick to her story; she would not allow him to see the figure. She knew Mana.s.seh Levison to be a persistent, over-bearing sort of man; nevertheless, she was resolved to defeat him. If the worst came to the worst, she would go to bed, and either take the figure with her, or hide it up the chimney. But alas for her plans!

Mana.s.seh, scenting a good thing, immediately after his cigar was finished, boldly followed the old lady into forbidden ground--her sitting-room--and did not even knock, but just turned the handle of the door and walked in. He discovered his hostess and young Shafto, evidently holding a weighty conference--with the figure on the table between them.

"Mr. Levison," she exclaimed, "are you aware that this is my private apartment, and that such an intrusion is unwelcome?"

Levison, not the least abashed, had s.n.a.t.c.hed up the figure and critically examined it, gla.s.s in eye. For an appreciable time he stood silent and transfixed, obviously gloating over the article in his grasp--yes, gloating, with the absorbed expression of a devotee! At last he spoke, raising his voice almost to a shout:

"And are _you_ aware, madam; that this--this piece in my hand, is a most glorious specimen of old 'Kang He'? An altar vessel, too; a most perfect, complete, and unique specimen of Chinese enamelled porcelain, dating from the Kang dynasty? By George!" handling it and turning it about with tender loving care, "what an astonishing find! I've never come across such a piece, and I've seen a good few in my time. How did you get hold of it?"

"Mr. Shafto gave it to me," replied Mrs. Malone, in her stiffest manner.

"And I picked it off a stall in the Caledonian Market," supplemented Shafto.

"What luck; what incredible luck!" exclaimed the dealer, nodding his big head; "well, Mrs. Malone, will you please inform your other customer that I will pay you three hundred pounds down for this piece--that rather snuffs him out, eh? I'll give you a cheque in the morning," and carrying the monster as reverently as if it were some holy relic, Mana.s.seh Levison, expert and connoisseur, marched out of the room in triumph.

CHAPTER VIII

BOUND FOR BURMA

It was some minutes before Mrs. Malone recovered her breath and composure, the invasion and purchase had been so startlingly abrupt.

At last she found her tongue and her wits, and after a lengthy and animated discussion, it was ultimately decided that she and Douglas would each take a hundred pounds (privately she determined to invest her share for his benefit) and hand the remaining hundred to the old woman in the black bonnet at her stand in the Caledonian Market.

The journey to Rangoon was now likely to be accomplished, thanks to the Chinese Monster. When Douglas picked it off the cobble stones, from among coa.r.s.e common crockery, how little he dreamed what a factor this figure would prove in his future--it had been the means of shaping his destiny!

On Friday morning he sent in a formal acceptance of Mr. Martin's offer and, having obtained leave, hurried away to the Caledonian Market, in search of the old rag and bottle female. It was half-past twelve o'clock when he arrived, he was late, and her pitch was empty. Had she departed already? On inquiry he was informed that old Mother Doake had departed for good--was, in fact, dead!

"Yes, she were run over by a motor-trolley ten days ago," announced the woman in the next stall; "she was terribly old and blind and a real wicked miser. There was no one belonging to her. Her clothes were just lined with bank-notes, and there was a whole lot of papers and bonds in her mattress, and a lovely silver tea-set up the chimney. She grudged herself a penn-'orth o' milk, or a drop o' brandy, and she worth thousands o' pounds! Being no heirs, the Crown takes the lot!

Thank you, sir," accepting a tip, "I suppose I could not tempt you with a splendid fur-lined overcoat? Cost a hundred--but you can have it for six. It belonged to a lord--I got it off his man. Well, maybe it's a bit warmish, but it's dirt cheap and would come in next winter."

Since Mother Doake was now defunct, her share divided gave Douglas another fifty pounds, and he felt quite a wealthy man. The first use he made of the monster's money was to take his father's watch and chain out of p.a.w.n; the next, to secure his pa.s.sage in the Bibby Line to Rangoon. Then he spent a long morning at the Stores and bought a new outfit, saddle and bridle, steamer trunks, and a steamer chair.

The purchase of the "Kang He" piece and its price were naturally not withheld from Mrs. Shafto. She pounced upon Douglas in the hall and drove him before her into the empty dining-room.

"Well, I've heard all about your wonderful luck!" she began excitedly, "and how Mr. Levison has actually paid you three hundred pounds for that frightful figure."

"Yes, so he did; it's a true bill."

"And now, my dear boy; you will be able to help me with my trousseau,"

said this daughter of a horse-leech, "I must really get good frocks.

Mr. L. is so sharp, and notices everything, and can tell the price of a gown to a sixpence; he has wonderful taste, and is very particular.

You must let me have fifty or sixty to begin with--it's not much out of three hundred pounds. What a windfall!"

"Oh, but I have already divided it with Mrs. Malone," replied Douglas; "she insisted upon my taking half--you see, the figure was hers."

"Divided it with Mrs. Malone!" screamed his mother. "What a mean, grasping, greedy old hag! I shall speak to her about it and make her disgorge. She has no right to your money; whilst I am your mother!"

"I do beg you won't interfere. Mrs. Malone is the most generous woman I know."

"Generous!" echoed Mrs. Shafto. "The greatest old skinflint in London--she charges me sixpence a day for having my breakfast in bed, and----"

"Well, you will soon be out of it," interrupted her son impetuously, "and so shall I! And I am glad to have an opportunity now of telling you that I have got promotion in the office and am going to Burma."

"Oh! are you? Burma--Burma! Why, that's abroad--some place near India--or is it the West Indies?"

"You are thinking of Bermuda. Burma is east of India. I have to pay for my pa.s.sage and outfit, and this unexpected windfall is a wonderful bit of luck. If I hadn't got it, I never could have accepted the post, or made a new start."

"And when do you leave?"'

"In a week."

"So soon," she exclaimed cheerfully; "I wonder what Cossie will say?"

"It is not of the slightest consequence what Cossie says; she has nothing to do with my plans."

"Cossie won't think so, and when she hears you have been promoted and are off to Burma, she will stick to you like a burr."

"But, my dear mother, what is the use of her sticking to me?" protested Douglas. "I haven't the faintest intention of being engaged to Cossie.

If she imagines that I am in love with her, she is making the greatest mistake in her life."

"Cossie is a foolish girl," admitted her aunt, "and has made heaps of mistakes; but if she sees her way to bettering herself, she can be as determined as anyone. Of course you will have to run down and say 'good-bye.'"

"Yes, I shall go to-morrow."

"I must say I don't envy you the visit!" declared his mother with a malicious smile.

"No, I daresay it will be disagreeable--but Aunt Emma will see me through. In Cossie's case it is not a matter of deep attachment; she only wants to play me off against that fellow Soames. Ah, here is Michael jingling his tray outside; he wants to lay the cloth and we had better clear."

In some respects the dreaded farewell at "Monte Carlo" was even more trying than Douglas had antic.i.p.ated. His relatives had learned and digested his news; to them, it seemed an uplifting of the entire connection. After pushing congratulations and some high-flown talk respecting the delights of his future career and "position," the girls, as if by mutual agreement, rose and left him alone with their mother.

Thus abandoned to a _tete-a-tete_, after a lengthy silence, Mrs.

Larcher, sitting among the collapsible spring's, began to speak in a shaky voice.

"Ahem! We have _all_ seen, Douglas, how devotedly attached you are to Cossie, and the marked attentions you have paid her. Of course, on such a small salary you were too honourable to say anything definite.

Ahem! But now that you are in a better position, with splendid prospects, I have no objection to an engagement, and as soon as you are comfortably settled in Rangoon, Cossie will join you."

Douglas instantly lifted himself out of his chair and confronted the unfortunate catspaw; standing erect before her, he said:

"My dear Aunt Emma, kindly understand once for all that I am not in love with Cossie. I have never made love to her, or ever shall. I like her as a cousin--but no more. Even if I were madly in love, I could not marry; my screw will barely keep myself."