“But my mother was more clever than he thought her. She understood his wiles, and though she could prove nothing, she told him that he himself had falsified the books that he accused my father of doing, and that she loved her husband more than ever when he became an unhappy victim.”
“And where does MacDaly come in?”
“He overheard a conversation in which my father rebuked Colonel Armour for his obsequious attentions paid to my mother during the absence of her husband. Colonel Armour lost his temper and in a fury dismissed him from his service, declaring that he would ruin him.”
“Which he certainly did,” interrupted Judy. “It is a strange thing that all this has not been found out before. That creature MacDaly ought to be horsewhipped.”
“He was afraid for himself,” said Vivivenne, “for it was he that set the warehouse on fire.”
“What, MacDaly?”
“Yes, but without an intention of doing it. It happened in this way: he listened to the altercation between my father and Colonel Armour, then went into a place of hiding. No stir was made with regard to the affair, so he issued from his place and loitered about to hear later on a conversation between Colonel Armour and Stanton. Colonel Armour said that he was coming back that evening to write in the office. This was unusual; MacDaly suspected that it bore on my father’s case and resolved to watch. Therefore returning stealthily at an earlier hour than his customary one to the warehouse, he saw Colonel Armour enter and leave his office. MacDaly then crept to the room. He found the safes closed, but he guessed shrewdly that his master had been tampering with the accounts of his clerk. While shuffling over loose papers on the table he mistakenly thought he heard Colonel Armour’s returning step. He ran, forgetting a lighted cigar or pipe he had laid down. It set fire to the papers. MacDaly, watching from the wharf, saw the windows bright with flames. He rushed to the spot but he could not extinguish the fire. He feared to call for help, and not till the passers-by saw the blazing building, was an alarm sounded. Then unfortunately, it was too late. The cunning MacDaly hid himself till the fire was over; but Colonel Armour suspected his connection with it, and taxed him with it, only sparing him from exposure because his purpose was to have my father blamed. This is a whip that he has held over MacDaly’s head to keep him from making any revelations about my father.”
“That if he did he would be punished for setting fire to the building?” said Judy inquiringly.
“Yes, Colonel Armour frightened him by saying that he would prove that he had done it intentionally, which by the common law is felony. The simple MacDaly knew that his master was rich and powerful, and he did not dare to brave him.”
“And how do you feel about it all?”