On the fourth day of Gerald's absence Tod received a letter from his friend in the character of a bridegroom. Everything had gone well, as the clergyman, on hearing the whole story, told in Haskins' persuasive manner, had joined Mavis and his friend's son in holy matrimony. Now Rebb had lost his income, as the conditions of the will had been fulfilled, and in spite of all his precautions Mavis had come into her own. Tod would have been less than human had he not reflected with great glee that, the income being safe from Rebb's clutches, his wife, as the twin sister of Mavis, would benefit to the extent of three thousand a year. "And Lady Euphemia called me a fool," chuckled Tod complacently. "What will she say when she knows that I have married an heiress and will be able to get back a part of the family estate?"
In his letter, Gerald informed Macandrew with great pride that Mavis had learned how to sign her name, and had produced a singularly fine specimen of calligraphy. "The rest of my darling's education," wrote the young man, "will be completed by me after all these troubles are over, and we can spend a proper honeymoon."
Education, as a means of passing a honeymoon, did not commend itself to Tod, and he made a grimace. Then he sat down and wrote a letter to Amsterdam telling Charity to come over and repair to Mrs. Pelham Odin's London flat, where he would join her later. He also gave her a full account of all that had taken place, and detailed the story of the Major, as to her birth, mentioning also the income which Mavis intended to hand over, as soon as the mystery of the crime was solved. When Tod posted this letter he took his way to Denleigh to see if he could find Geary and arrange for him to appear at the Pixy's House. It was necessary, as Gerald had explained, that all the actors in this drama should come together for the clearing up all perplexities.
But Geary was not easy to be found. Afraid of the official warning uttered by Morgan, he had taken to the hills, and although Tod roamed all over the place he could not find the man. He returned to the Prince's Head quite fatigued, and found a telegram from Gerald, stating that he and his bride would be in Silbury by the midday train next day. Macandrew communicated the joyful news to Arnold, who had come back from a round of bookselling--for the gnome did not neglect his business even in these anxious days--and the two had a merry little dinner on that same night, prepared by Mrs. Jennings' own hands. And the landlady's cooking, when she desired, was something to be wondered at. Tod insisted on a bottle of champagne being sent for, and the tutor and the lawyer drank long life and happiness to the bride and bridegroom with all honors. "Although," said Tod, setting down his glass, "we are not yet out of the wood."
An hour after dinner, and while Arnold was detailing his early connection with Mavis, Mrs. Jennings came in, much flustered. "Oh, sir," she said, "here's that horrid black landlord of the Devon Maid. He asks to see you, sir. I wouldn't if I were you. He's always drunk, and may be dangerous."
"Never mind, I am not afraid. Show him up," said Tod valiantly.
Mrs. Jennings shook her head but did as she was bidden, and in a few minutes Mr. Adonis Geary, looking a wreck of his former stalwart self, came into the room. However, he was perfectly sober, and very much depressed. Wanderings on the hills did not agree with him, and he looked as one of his ancestors might have looked when Cuban bloodhounds were hunting flesh and blood in the days of slavery.
"You wish to see me, sah?" said Geary, after a casual glance at Arnold.
"Yes, Mr. Geary," replied Tod, settling himself in his chair, "the fact is that things are coming to a climax, and I want you to come to the Pixy's House to-morrow afternoon, say at two o'clock, to state what you know of Bellaria's murder."
"I doan't know noting, sah," said the negro doggedly.