University of Virginia Library

21. CHAPTER XXI.
THE RUSE.

That Carlton Ellery was the secret enemy who had devised and executed
the scheme to ruin James, which had so nearly proved successful, neither
Mr. Weldon nor himself had now any doubt. They, therefore, resolved to
take such steps as should fasten upon him the guilt.

`It is necessary to proceed with the greatest caution,' said Mr. Weldon,
after Finney had closed the door between the two counting-rooms. `From
the skill with which this wicked affair has been managed by Ellery, it will
prove a difficult task to bring home the crime upon him. To succeed, we
must be as skilful, cautious, and secret as he has been.'

`I see the difficulties in the way, as we have no positive evidence,' answered
James. `I am at a loss how to proceed, unless I wait upon him, and
openly charge him with the crime.'

`This would bring only denial, and perhaps make it impossible for you to
convict him afterwards. We must act with subtlety. Perhaps,' continued
Mr. Weldon, looking fixedly at James, and speaking with slight hesitation,
`perhaps it would be policy for me to act as if I believed you to be guilty!
Nay, do not start so, with surprise and doubt on your countenance. My proposition
is, that you, for a day or two, remain away from the counting-room,
as if I had discharged you. This will draw Ellery's notice, for he will be
now on the watch for the fruits of my knowledge of the forgeries. It is not
improbable that he may place himself in the way, as we go to dinner, to
watch our faces, to see if he can judge of what has passed by them. If we
should be seen walking together, and conversing as heretofore, he would at
once see that you had succeeded in clearing yourself; and this would either
lead him to try some other means to ruin you, or else, fearing suspicion
might fall upon the true man, remove himself beyond the reach of the punishment
due to his crimes. You see I speak very positively as to his guilt,
of which, the more I reflect upon his character and conduct, I have not the
least doubt. What think you, James, of bearing the imputation of my displeasure
for a few days, until something can be discovered?'

`I approve of your suggestion, sir. It will no doubt lead Ellery, or whoever
be my enemy, to believe that I have been privately dismissed by you,
you declining to prosecute.'

`This is what I wish him to believe.'

`But, sir, may he not bruit abroad the fact, and may it not be generally
believed, that I have forged, and have been degraded by you?'

`No, he will not dare speak of it, for he will only betray thereby a knowledge
of the facts, which would at once condemn him as guilty. If I should
hear that Ellery had told any one that you had been dismissed from my employ
because you had forged drafts on the bank, I would not hesitate to have
him arrested on the instant, as the very forger himself! The facts, you
know, James, are only known to ourselves, to Mr. Morley, the cashier, and
to the real culprit. Now, if it is rumored by any one that you have forged,
it must be by this unknown fourth party, who, without question, is Ellery.'

`I see, sir. But Mr. Morley — may he not —'

`Mr. Morley will, for his own credit's sake, keep silent. In paying drafts

so largely overdrawn, he has done what the board would not justify; and, if
known, would subject him to censure, if not to dismissal.'

`I am ready to acquiesce in your suggestion, sir,' answered James, after a
moment's grave reflection. `It seems a judicious, and perhaps the only
course. But if Ellery intends to accomplish my ruin, he will not keep silent
when he finds I have left you. He will, by some means, give publicity to
my apparent guilt, and then, in the estimation of the world, I am really
guilty! My reputation will then be indeed gone!'

`I repeat, James, that he will not dare speak of it! I do not think he
cares to destroy you, only so far as you may be prevented from being longer
his rival in Grace's affections. I speak plainly, you see. His object is to
ruin you in my estimation alone. He only wishes to defeat your object in
the attainment of the hand of my daughter. Beyond this, I do not think he
has aimed. This accomplished, his purposes will be satisfied. Therefore,
when he sees that you have left me, and that all intercourse has ceased between
us, he will feel that his aim is achieved; that he need fear you no
longer as a rival!'

`That is my opinion, sir,' answered James; `but I felt a delicacy in speaking
my mind so plainly as you have done. At all events, sir, if I am calumniated,
you, at least, will believe me innocent,' he said, with emotion.

`Yes; and the world shall too! If a breath is blown abroad against you,
I will have Ellery arrested; for on his conviction will then hang your innocence!
I have business now in State street, and will leave you. You can
depart soon after. If you learn anything, call and let me know at my house,
after sunset, so that you may enter unobserved; or else write me a note. If
I hear anything, I will let you know. Now, good morning, my friend, and
bear up manfully; for the assurance that the person in whose eyes you were
to be ruined believes you innocent, should, with the consciousness of innocence,
render you cheerful, and give you that energy and hope which will be
necessary.

Thus speaking, Mr. Weldon shook him warmly by the hand, and quitted
the counting-room.

`Excellent man! How has his noble confidence in my integrity sustained
me!' said James, with impulsive gratitude. `Had he not shown such benevolence
and wisdom, I should have been lost forever. The evidence against
me was sufficient to destroy any man! Yet he believes me innocent. Without
being able to prove another guilty, he acquits me, who am unable to
prove my own innocence! God be thanked for His goodness, in turning his
heart so kindly towards me. Almost any other man than Mr. Weldon would
have had me arrested, and I should now have been in prison, and my name
on every lip, instead of being at liberty, and with my fair fame yet unsullied.
I will now return home, and, in the solitude of my own chamber, give
my thoughts to the best course to pursue to clear myself and convict the
guilty. Ah! here is this note that was handed to me as I came in,' he said,
as he rose up to put on his surtout, from the pocket of which, as he took it
down from the nail, a note fell to the floor. He then opened, and read
with surprise, the note which Isabel, the quadroon, under the dictation of
her brother, had addressed to him.

`What can this mean?' he said, perplexed. `It may have some bearing
upon this conspiracy against me. It seems to be written by a friend, and I
will comply with the request contained in it. I will be there. Who can it
be that writes? It must be the female, Eveline Dernel, who wrote the

letter to Mr. Morley. But Mr. Weldon and I have already given Ellery
credit for penning that letter, and therefore there can be no female of that
name. I can at least go and see if there is such a house and number, and if
I think, by entering, I can get at a clue to this conspiracy against me, I will
go in and see this person, who seems to be my friend. It may have no bearing
whatever upon the great subject on my mind, but, in my present state,
the slightest and every thing seems to bear upon it. I will go to-night, at
the hour appointed, and see what this person wants of me.'

Thus resolving, he thrust the letter into his pocket, and left the counting-room.
As he passed out, Finney stopped him:

`So, Mr. Daily, you are to be away from us a few days, Mr. Weldon said,
as he passed out. Private correspondence to be done in your own private
room. Well, there is some things can be done better when one is alone, than
when one is interrupted. Now, of all things, I should like to keep my books
in my boarding-house, where no one would speak to me! Sometimes here, I
get took up into my head at least thirty figures in a column, and have only
four or five more to add to 'em, when somebody interrupts me with a question,
and then they all vanish from my brain like a string of beads made of
soap bubbles, and I have to begin and take 'em all up again! I suppose
you have a good deal of writing to do about the new partnership, and I do n't
blame you for keeping at home, where you can do it without being disturbed.'

Daily made no remark, and passed out, feeling deeply the delicacy of Mr.
Weldon in thus paving the way to the clerks for his absence. Mr. Weldon
had been gone about ten minutes when James left the counting-room. The
former gentleman, as he entered State street, and passed up to 'Change
Walk, met Carlton Ellery, who, looking him full and inquiringly in the face,
bowed, and passed on.

`That look establishes that man's guilt,' said Mr. Weldon to himself. `It
was just such an inquisitive, anxious, investigating survey of my countenance
as the real criminal would fix upon me to read the result of his conspiracy.
If I had a doubt before of James's entire innocence, it has now vanished.'

In a few minutes afterwards, James entered State street, on his way to call
on Mr. Morley, that he might learn from him particularly all the facts connected
with the presentation and payment of the drafts, and get a minute
description of the lad and of the negro who had visited the bank. He
wished, also, to assure Mr. Morley of his innocence, and urge upon him
silence till he should be able to convict the guilty one.

As he passed up State street, he saw Carlton Ellery standing upon the
steps of the bank, carelessly tapping his boot with a rattan, but his eyes
fixed keenly upon Mr. Weldon, who was in conversation with two other gentlemen.
James came near before Ellery saw him. Mr. Weldon, at the
same moment, caught James's eye, while the eye of Ellery was upon both.
Mr. Weldon looked coldly and sternly upon Daily, while the latter passed
on, without bowing, and did not enter the bank, lest Ellery should suspect
his object. The eyes of the two young men did not meet, Ellery's being too
busy with watching the meeting between the merchant and his head-clerk,
and James's purposely avoiding any glance that might betray his suspicions
of him before the time; for the only way he knew to convict him would be
not to seem to suspect him. When James had passed on, Ellery hurried to
Mr. Weldon's counting-room. After staying five minutes there, he left, and
hastened towards the mulatto's abode.

On reaching State street, he crossed it rapidly, and passed into Flag alley-Midway

he met Clow, who was, as usual, elegantly attired as a foreigner,
with false mustache and imperial.

`The thing is half done, Clow,' he said with animation.

`Half is not the whole. What has been done?'

`Daily is dimissed, but not arrested, by Mr. Weldon. I saw them meet
on 'Change half an hour ago, and Weldon looked at Daily as if he would
annihilate him; while Daily looked away and colored, and hung his head.'

`Did they not bow — nor speak?'

`No; they met like enemies. But I have more proof. I hastened down
to their counting-room, while they were out, and saw Finney, who told me,
in his garrulous way, that Daily was going to be absent for a few days —
writing to do, requiring secrecy and privacy!'

`Well, what does this do for us?' asked the mulatto, gloomily.

`It does this much. It proves that Mr. Weldon has dismissed Daily, under
the plea that he has secret work for him to do. This will blind such
fools as Finney, but not you and I, Clow! The truth is, Mr. Weldon is
convinced (as he must be, from the evidence he has) of Daily's guilt, and he
has privately dismissed him, not wishing publicly to prosecute a man who
was addressing his daughter. This is the fact, you may be assured. Daily
is as dead as a herring, and my coast is clear!'

`Your coast!'

`Yes. My only object was to put him out of the way, so that I might
have a clear field for winning the lovely Grace Weldon!

`And you are content with this?'

`Yes. Poor devil! let him go now; he can no longer cross my path. I
suppose he will leave Boston, and try his fortune in Texas, for he will never
remain here, be assured.'

`I shall not let him go though, Mr. Ellery,' answered Clow, fiercely.
`You have used him for your purposes, and you say they are accomplished.
I have my own still to carry out.'

`What are they?'

`Come and see me at half past six o'clock, and I will let you know,' answered
the mulatto; and the two conspirators separated.